HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 565

CHAPTER LXII.

(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)

NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP

Location-Physical Features-Scenery-Indian Mound-In-

dian Villages-Reminiscences-Block House-Early Nurs-

ery-Thomas Butler-A Panther Hunt-Robert Giffen-

Other Early Settlers-Mills-Distilleries-Other Industries

-Bridges-Schools-Churches-New Castle-Walhonding-

Mount Airy.

NEW CASTLE was one of the townships organized before the county was organized. It is understood to have been named after New Castle in Delaware. It lies in the extreme western part of the county, touching Knox county. Tiverton township, which forms the northwestern corner of the county lies just north of it. Jefferson township bounds it on the east and Perry on the south.

The Walhonding or White Woman river is formed in the northwestern part of the township by the junction of the Mohican river and Owl creek, the former flowing south from Tiverton township, the latter in a southeasterly direction from Knox county; thence the river flows eastwardly by a winding course and enters Jefferson township. The valley of Owl creek is wide and fertile; that of the Mohican, though this is a larger stream, is considerably narrower, containing little bottom lands. The other streams are unimportant. One called Laurel run enters the river from the south close to the junction of its two branches. Another named Dutch run enters it in the eastern part of the township from the north. The surface from the river rises for a mile or two to the south and there forms a water shed, the land further south being drained by streamlets flowing in an opposite direction Tomica creek in the southwestern part of the township is the most noticeable of these. It flows in a southwesterly direction into Knox county. The land in the southern half of the township is generally rolling, in some places gently undulating, and furnishes an excellent location for farming purposes, the soil being rich and productive.. North of the river the surface is broken and hilly and the soil of a fair quality.

A tradition exists that a large elm tree, standing about a mile up Owl creek, or Kokosing river, commemorates a tragedy which occurred here towards the close of the last century. Some half a dozen Indians had stolen horses near the Ohio river, and had fled with them in this direction. A squad of white men pursued them, and, when near the forks of the Walhonding, the bells fastened to the horses were heard tinkling in the valley. The horses had been turned out to graze for the first time, while the red-skinned marauders were on the bottoms shooting squirrels for supper. It was growing late and the whites decided to defer the attack until daybreak that none of the thieves might escape them through the darkness. They accordingly fell back and at nightfall surrounded the Indians encamped under the elm. At first dawn the Indians commenced preparations for continuing the journey. One big Indian came and stood immediately over the captain, crouched under the bank. Another Indian started toward a tree behind which a white man was concealed. He saw him and started back in affright. The next instant a bullet went crashing through his brain. This was the signal for a general volley from the whites, and all the savages fell except two, who dashed into the stream and, when they had reached the opposite side in safety, hurled back a token of defiance. Guided by the sound, several parting shots were fired after them and one of the two was killed. The sole survivor concealed his body in a hollow tree,. where he was afterward found and hastened on to Upper Sandusky.

New Castle township affords some of the finest scenery in the county. The valley of the Walhonding is here narrowest and most picturesque. Tall bluffs descend almost precipitously in some places to the water's edge on either side. The

566 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

steep acclivities are covered, for the most part, with trees of a forest growth, interspersed here and there with clusters of pine and spruce; or these are scattered along singly in places, and again in waving rows among the hillside oaks, while further below are seen the rugged. and bleached skeletons of the sycamore. South of the village of New Castle a short distance, is a beautiful cascade in little Laurel run, which falls headlong over the rocks a distance of forty feet. On the ridge road leading from New Castle to Coshocton, a mile or so from the village, a view is obtained which commands a sweep of the country for miles around. Away in the distance the White Woman is seen bending in graceful curves and fringed with wooded hillsides. The scene is exhilarating, and a sniff of the almost mountain breeze here is likewise truly bracing.

A noteworthy ancient mound stands near the forks of the Walhonding, just above the village of Walhonding. It is a conspicuous conical elevation in the meadow near the road, having a height of perhaps fifteen feet and a diameter 100 feet. Large trees growing upon it attest its antiquity. Mr. Peter Neff made a partial examination of it several years ago, by digging a transverse trench into it some distance. He discovered the remains of several skeletons.

In the map of Bouquet's expedition to Coshocton, in 1764, against the Indiana, drawn by Mr. Hutching, who accompanied General Bouquet, and published in Dr. Hildreth's Early History of Ohio, an Indian village marked Owl's Town, is located in the forks of the Walhonding, close to their junction. It was doubtless named from Owl, an Indian chief, whose name is also perpetuated by one of the branches of the Walhonding

Nine years before this, or in 1755, Colonel James Smith, a citizen of Pennsylvania, was surprised near Bedford, in that State, and take prisoner, by two Delaware Indians. "He was lodged at Fort DuQuesne at the time of Brad dock's defeat, and witnessed barbarities practice upon prisoners taken in that battle, having him self to run the gauntlet, and submit to torture more cruel than death itself. He was then taken to an Indian town called Tullihas, on the White Woman, about twenty miles above the forks, inhabited by Delawares and Mohicans, where he remained several months, and underwent the ceremony of being made an Indian." His account of it and other ceremonies are graphically written and illustrate the manners and customs of the inhabitants of this territory 125 years ago. If the distance be accurately stated, this village must have been located in New Castle township. The details of his captivity appear in another chapter.

Indians frequently encamped in the township subsequent to the coming of the first settlers and previous to the war of 1812, the most friendly relations existed between them. The children of the pioneers frequently visited the Indians in their wigwams, were kindly received, and given pieces of "jerked" meat and other little presents. But when the tocsin of war sounded and rumors came to the ears of the settlers that the savages had taken up the tomahawk and the war-knife, all this was changed; and deadly fear took the place of the previous confidence and repose. The Indians no longer smoked the pipe of peace, but either deserted the neighborhood entirely or skulked suspiciously from place to place through the country, holding no communication whatever with their white neighbors.

Mrs. Matthew Stuart, an aged lady of seventy-six years, the daughter of Robert Giffen, now living in Bethlehem township with her daughter, Mrs. Denman, recalls the incident of her meeting two of the savages once after the war had been opened. She was sent for the cows one morning some distance from her father's cabin, and upon reaching a ravine, was met by two Indians whose appearance was made hideous by a liberal application of war-paint. The one cheek of each brave was striped with broad streaks of deep red, which so changed their features for the worse that she was unable to recognize them. The sight of them frightened her greatly, for she had just been listening to stories of their atrocities, but putting on d a look of indifference, she walked by them as unconcernedly as possible, and, happily, was not s molested.

While Mr. Giffen was serving in the army at Mansfield, one of his children, Robert, fell sick and continued to grow worse till there was no longer any hope of his recovery. Mrs. Giffen

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 567

wished her husband to see his son before he died, and resolved to go for him. Starting early one morning at 3 o'clock, armed only with a butcher knife, she performed the perilous journey to Mansfield in safety, and prevailed on Captain Williams to grant her husband a leave of absence.

So near was this township to the seat of war that it was deemed prudent by the early settlers to provide some means of protection against attacks of savages, and a block-house was accordingly built during the first stages of the conflict. It stood in the northwestern corner of the Giffen section, on the farm now owned by Daniel McKee, about two rods west of his present residence and within two rods of the adjacent spring, on a spot of ground which had been a camping place for the Indians. The fortification was stoutly built of logs, and in size was about twenty-four feet square. About six feet from the ground, the walls were projected outward several feet, to prevent scaling by an attacking enemy. Portholes about four or six inches square, were made on every side, and withal the building was capable of withstanding a vigorous siege, but fortunately the protection it guaranteed never became necessary. It was afterwards converted into a cabin and occupied as such many years.

Close to the site of this block-house, and covering a patch of ground perhaps seventy-five feet square, was an apple nursery of Johnny Appleseed's own raising, planted at a very early day. number of the early settlers in this vicinity provided themselves with fruit trees from this nursery. One of them, David John, about 1808 transplanted a number of the young trees to his farm, now owned by Joshua Clark. The orchard food along the road just south of Mr. Clark's stone residence. A single survivor of this early orchard remains, and it is in the last stages of decay. Two large branches were taken down by storm last summer, leaving but one limb now on the tree. Apart from the interest which attaches to it from its association with Johnny Appleseed, the tree is a remarkable one, measuring, as it does, ten feet two inches in circumference, a foot or two from the ground. It has been a prolific bearer of as fine natural fruit as can well be found, and grafts have been taken from it several times. One year Mr. Clark picked from a portion of the tree eighty-four bushels of apples, and from a careful estimation he believes that it bore that year at least 140 bushels. The foliage of the tree in its prime, shaded a spot of ground forty-four feet in diameter.

Thomas Butler was probably the pioneer settler in thin township. He was a Virginian; moved with his family to Muskingum county, settling in the vicinity of the present village of Dresden, one spring, when there were but two cabins in Zanesville. He set about preparing himself a house in the wilderness; but the climate did not agree with him. He was seized with ague, and returned to Virginia, in the autumn of the same year. The next spring, his restless, adventurous spirit led him to again tempt the wilds of the then far west, and he crossed the mountains again, this time taking up his abode within the present limits of Coshocton county, about two miles north of the forks of the Muskingum, half a mile west of Canal Lewisville. He had cleared a cornfield, of eight or ten acres the first improvement in the vicinity and remained three years; then removed to the house he occupied during the remaining years of his life, in the upper Walhonding valley. The farm is situated in the extreme eastern part of New Castle township, just south of the river. The exact date of his arrival here is uncertain, but it was at least four or five years prior to the emigration of Robert Giffin.

The military section upon which he located the northeastern quarter of the township-be-belonged to George Suckles, an eastern man, who sold it to settlers, in tracts to suit the purchaser, through his agent, James Dunlap, living. near Utica.

A few reminiscences of this, the earliest settler in this township, would not be inappropriate. His grandfather had been shot and killed s by Indians close to his cabin, in Virginia, whiled, he was, making a garden fence, and his grandmother, with her youngest child, James, then of seven years old, captured. Another son, Joseph, c Thomas Butler's father, who had been recently married, was out in the fields at work, at the time al . of his father's untimely death, and his newly made wife, who was at the house at the time,

568 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

avoided captivity, or perhaps death, by fleeing to her husband, narrowly escaping from a pursuing Indian. Mrs. Butler effected her escape the second night after she was taken prisoner. The little boy, James, remained in captivity with the Indians eighteen months, and was exchanged, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, his brother Joseph, Thomas' father, going for him there.

While Mr. Butler was living at the forks of the Muskingum, one winter morning he took down his rifle, whistled his dog, and went out to look for a deer. A thin bed of snow covered the ground, and the trail of several deer was soon discovered, leading down the river. Following it up as rapidly as possible, he came to a dense thicket of considerable extent, through which the deer tracks led. Letting the dog follow the track, he passed around, and on reaching the other side beheld evidences of larger game, the tracks of a panther following the path of the deer. Sending the dog on ahead, he himself followed as fast as he could, and upon going some distance came upon the dog, lying upon its back with feet pointing skyward, and apparently lifeless. Mr. Butler continued cautiously in pursuit along the upper bank of the river, and after walking about one-fourth of a mile he saw the panther in the lower bottom lands, about fifty yards away. Raising his rifle, he fired and wounded the animal, but not mortally. It ran off and concealed itself among the top branches of a tree that had blown down the summer before, the dead leaves completely. hiding it from sight on every side. The hunter dared not approach within reach of its deadly spring, and after waiting in vain for the animal to appear, seeing that he could do nothing, Mr. Butler concluded to abandon the game and return home. Taking a shorter route than that by which he came, he was surprised to meet his dog staggering feebly in the same direction. Upon his arrival he found his brother Benjamin at the house, and they decided to return and terminate the career of the panther if possible. Mounting their horses, they called the dogs, two belonging to his brother and another one to Thomas, and soon reached the fallen tree. The panther was no longer here, but had taken refuge in a thicket not far away. The dogs soon drove it from this, and it ran up a large tree, from which it was easily shot, and fell dead to the ground. It proved to be a panther of unusual size.

Mr. Butler was not a soldier in the war of 1812, but sent as a substitute James Biggs, who was killed at Upper Sandusky, while in service, by a large limb falling upon him from a tree which several soldiers were engaged in felling. His son, James Butler, was in the service. His father, Joseph, and two brothers, Isaac and Joseph, settled in Jefferson township a few years after he came to this township. Another brother, Benjamin, after living a short time in Coshocton county, moved to Knox county, where he assisted, in 1805, in the laying out of Mount Vernon. Few, if any, families have given character to the upper Walhonding valley to so great a degree as the Butlers. Felix Butler, a son of Thomas, still lives, at the age of seventy-one years, just across the line in Knox county.

Another prominent pioneer settler was Robert Giffen, who owned the southwestern quarter of the township, a 4,000 acre military tract. The first owner of this section was Cairnon Medwell; after several transfers, it came into Giffen's possession. He emigrated to it, about 1808, from St. Clairsville. His daughter, Mrs. Stuart, recollects well the journey here. The household goods were sent from St. Clairsville in a pirogue down the Ohio river to Marietta, thence up the Muskingum river to the forks of the Walhonding, while the family, consisting of father, mother and four children, came overland. They had but three horses among them, and would alternately ride and walk. Mr. Giffen was originally from Virginia, but, prior to 1802, he had moved to Belmont county and erected a set of mills on Short creek, near St. Clairsville. Mrs. Stuart does not recollect that any settlers were living on her father's section at the time of his arrival, but very soon after they began to come in. Mr. Giffen disposed of a considerable amount of land to different settlers, taking in full or partial payment any kind of work which they could do for him. Among these early purchasers were Martin Cox, John Ely, David and Thomas John, Timothy Hawkins, Matthew Duncan, John Wolfe and James Pigman. About 1812, Mr. Giffen represented the district, to which his county belonged, in the State legislature. The State capital, where

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 569

the legislature convened at that time, was Chillicothe, and Mr. Griffen made the journey there on horseback. The session lasted about three months, during which time there was no vacation. He also served in the war of 1812, in Captain Williams' company. The first cabin he built stood about a mile northwest from the present village of New Castle; about three years later he erected another on the site of the village and moved into it. He was a millwright by trade and desirous of obtaining a good mill site, something not to be found on his own section. This fact led him to remove to Knox county, in 1814, where he engaged in milling many years.

David and Thomas John, two brothers, were from New Jersey. When they emigrated to Ohio, they stopped a year or two in Belmont county, then about 1807 or 1808, moved out to Giffen section. They purchased land in the southwestern part of the section, now owned and occupied by Joshua Clark, and paid for it in part by clearing other land for Mr. Giffen. David John was the only man in the township, it is said, except Philip Morgan, of a considerable later date, who abstained entirely from the use of whisky. Thomas John was a soldier in the war of 1812. Each built a large, comfortable stone house for himself in the early part of their career here. Timothy Hawkins, the brother-in-law of David, came here from New Jersey about the time the Johns did.

Martin and David Cox came several years later. Martin lived on the Hammel place, about a mile southeast from New Castle. He kept a postoffice for a number of years at Cox Cross Roads, a little farther north. He afterward moved to Sandusky, where he died. David moved to Knox county several years after he came here. Another brother, Michael, resided in Perry township.

Matthew Duncan, from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania., emigrated about 1808, to the southwestern part of the Giffen section, on the place now owned by Mr. L. Lawrence. He distinguished himself in early times by building a large store house, the first of the kind erected in the township.

John Ely purchased from Mr. Giffen the land which the village of New Castle now occupies He raised a numerous family, and afterward removed to Richland county.

David Melick, who hailed from a region called, Turkey Foot, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was another early settler of this section. Having a great aversion to the river he settled in the extreme southwestern corner of the township. John Wolfs, also from Pennsylvania, settled in the same neighborhood, on the farm now occupied by George Knight.

The congress land, which constitutes the southeastern quarter of the township, was surveyed into half sections, of 320 acres each, by Silas Bent, Jr., in 1803. Unlike congress land in many other townships this was settled in an early day. In 1810, Joseph Severns, emigrating from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, entered land in sections 11 and 20. His first cabin was built on the ridge in the northwest quarter of section 20. He died fn 1857, being above eighty years of age. His oldest son, Samuel, is still living in the southern part of the township. He served in the war of 1812 and is probably the oldest person in the township, having reached his eighty-sixth birthday on the 17th day of October, 1880.

The Merediths also lived in this part of the township. They were Virginians and came here as early as the Severns, perhaps several years earlier. Those of the family who lived in New Castle township were Isaac, Job and Obed. Isaac and Obed served in the war of 1812, Isaac as captain of a company which he raised in this part of the county. He entered the northwest quarter of section 22, and served the township many years as justice of the peace. Obed occupied the southeast quarter of section 21, the extreme southeastern corner of the township. Job lived on the Staats place on Giffen's section. He afterward moved to Indiana and died there. The Merediths were one of the best known and esteemed families in the township.

William Hull settled on the northeast quarter of section 18; also entered the southeast quarter of section 13. He died about 1814. Thomas Horton, a son-in-law to Thomas Butler, settled in the northwest quarter of section 12:

The northwestern quarter of the township forms a military section, which was granted April 3,1800, to James Taylor, George Gillespy, "practitioner of physic," and Joseph Strong, also a physician, all of Philadelphia. Some two years

570 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

later Taylor purchased the interests of his two partners for $1,200, Pennsylvania. currency. In 1805 he sold the greater part of the section, 3,272 acres, to. Eli Nichols.

Squire Humphrey, who came into possession of the remaining 728 acres of the section, the part lying east of the Miohican, was one of the earliest and best known of the township pioneers. He was a Rhode Islander and emigrated prior to the war of 1812. A man of considerable learning and intelligence, he wielded a large influence for good; was a representative to the State legislature in 1814, and for many years a justice of the peace. Other early settlers on this section were John Woods, an individual who had a great desire to preach the gospel, and sometimes attempted it, though from all accounts, with ill success; a German called Conkle, whose petulent temper made him the object of sundry pranks of the mischievous backwoods urchins; Joe Beckwith and John Titus, Conkle's sons-in-law; Jacob Cokenour, Moses Byrum and George Spurgeon. Byrum's father (also several other persons) was buried on the big mound near the forks of the Walhonding. Most of these settlers were Virginians, and all were either lessors or squatters.

Eli Nichols, who owned the greater part of this section, was for many years, ending with his death, the largest land owner in the county. He settled upon his section about 1836, coming from St. Clairsville, Ohio, and was for forty years, up to the event of his death, well-known throughout the county. "His death occurred at his home, after an illness of only two days. His age was seventy-two years. His wife preceded him to the grave but a few months. His interest in education, and especially his attachment to the public school system, was often avowed. He was born and reared in the Quaker church, but in after years disavowed the religious principles of that body, and repudiated the Bible as an infallible book. In early manhood, he took an active part in the operations of the colonization society, but soon abandoned it, and henceforward gloried in being an `abolitionist.' His gentleness of nature made him patient amid whatever reproach he encountered in this, as in other lines of thought and action; and it is claimed for him that, whatever his antipathy to the system of slavery, and his sympathy with the oppressed, he was always wonderfully lenient toward the slave holder. In his later years he became much interested in `spiritualism,' and much of his time in his declining years was given to the study of this, and he became a full believer in it, continuing in this faith unto the last of earth."

His son Lloyd now has possession of this large tract of land, and continues to be, as his father was before him, the most extensive land holder in the county.

The streams of New Castle township, except the Walhonding and its two branches, Owl creek and Mohican river, are small and afford but a limited supply of water power. No mill is known to have been built across the river on either of its two tributaries, consequently the early milling operations in the township, prior to the building of the canal, must have been limited in point of power if not in number.

About 1815, Samuel Farquhar built a saw-mill on Tomica run, close to the Knox county line. After it had been running six or seven years, the dam was swept away during a freshet. In 1834, Joshua Clark built another saw-mill in the same place. Some twenty years later, he moved it farther up the creek, close to his residence, and run it here some six or seven years. During all this time the mill was run steadily and a good business done, as much as sixteen hundred feet of lumber being sawed a day. Then as the volume of water was insufficient to keep it going, he removed it.

Three-quarters of a mile farther up the creek, Joseph Mills erected a saw-mill about 1830. After several years it came into the hands of his son, Samuel, who has been operating it ever since.

A little grist and saw-mill stands on C. H. Meredith's place in the southeastern corner of the township. It has been running about twenty-five years.

One attempt was made to construct a dam across the river close to the village of Walhonding, by Walter Farmer, but it was unsuccessful. The dam was partly built, heavy timbers being sunk to the rock-bed, which were to be firmly bolted together with immense rods of iron, when financial embarrassments and the projection of

PAGE 571 - PICTURE OF THE FARM AND RESIDENCE OF HUGH M'FADDEN, TUSCARAWAS TOWNSHIP

PAGE 572 - BLANK

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the Walhonding canal, discouraged the enterprise and led to its relinquishment.

This same individual acquired quite a notoriety by attempting to utilize the same water repeatedly in running a mill. He erected a sawmill at the mouth of Dutch run, about two miles below Walhonding, and to the machinery, set in motion by the water power, he attached a pump, the purpose of which was to pump the water back into the race. Notwithstanding this "freak," Mr. Turner was an intelligent Englishman. He possessed considerable means, and figured quite prominently in the affairs of the township forty yearn ago. He was an extensive land owner, dealt largely in stock, expended his money lavishly, made extensive improvements which the condition of his property at that time did not warrant, and, as a natural consequence, lost heavily.

The township has not been without its distilleries, though their tenure upon life has been somewhat precarious. One was located on the C. Staats place. It was a little copper affair, set up by Joe Meredith, and operated a few years only. The grain for this still was mashed at a mill over the line in Knox county. The "California" distillery was an institution located about a mile and a half east of New Castle, operated by Daniel Berry and John Lewis. It was started about 1840, and kept up five or six years. During this time it did an extensive business in the manufacture of whisky. A steam saw-mill was also located here.

John R. Gamble owned a still house in the northwestern part of the township which, during a brief career, produced large quantities of the popular beverage.

About twenty years ago a great many oil leases were taken on ground in New Castle township in the vicinity of Walhonding, the "signs" indicating its existence here. A number of wells were sunk but no oil of consequence was found. Two wells, sunk by Peter Neff of Cincinnati, about a mile above the village, however, produced an immense outflow of gas, which at the time was regarded as valueless. About six years ago Mr. Neff conceived the idea of utilizing this gas in the manufacture of lamp black, and erected works for thin purpose. The experiment was successful and the works have been in operation ever since. Several thousand gas jets are kept burning constantly, night and day, and a very superior article is produced in considerable quantities. Mr. Neff, it is understood, contemplates making extensions to the works soon.

A tannery, situated on George Knight's farm, in the southern part of the township, has been running for about twenty years.

A wooden bridge was built across the river at Walhonding about 1854. It got out of shape, was regarded by many as insecure, and was rebuilt in 1860. Again giving way, it was superceded by an iron bridge in 1872. Some of the material of the old bridge was used in the masonry of the new. A mistake in dimensions was made, increasing the expense of the masonry, which (almost wholly for labor) cost some $1,200. The masons were Buchanan Brothers and N. W. Buxton. The superstructure was furnished by the Coshocton Iron and Steel Works, and cost $7,844. The ice, in the winter of 1874, carried away a pier and two spans of this bridge. The latter were replaced by the Cincinnati Bridge Co. (of which for a time the Coshocton Iron and Steel Works was a partner), in 1875.

An iron .bridge was built over the Mohican, a little above Walhonding, in 1871. N. W. Buxton constructed the piers and abutments for $4,465, and the Massillon Iron Bridge Co. furnished the superstructure for $5,070.

The Walhonding canal enters the township from Jefferson, and closely follows the northern bank of the river in all its meanderings to the forks, then up the eastern side of the Mohican valley into Tiverton township.

A school-house was built in the eastern part of the township, south of the river, about 1812, but before it had been used for school purposes, it was accidentally burned by a company of soldiers, who, returning to Cadiz from the Western frontier, encamped in it one night. It was not rebuilt. About ten years later, however, another one was built in the same vicinity, on J. M. Rodger's farm, near where the present school-building stands. Isaac Richardson was the first teacher. He had a rough set of pupils to manage, who required and received frequent and vigorous applications of the rod.

574 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

A school-house was built about a half mile west of New Castle, as early as 1812, perhaps earlier, by Robert Giffen and his neighbors. It was a large log house, and seems to have been well at tended. Mrs. Stuart states that as many as forty pupils attended school here at one time, before her father moved to Knox county, 1814. Rev. James Pigman, a noted Methodist preacher, taught the first school.

Only one church exists in an active working state in the township at the present time. This is the Methodist Episcopal church, located in the village of New Castle. It was organized prior to the year 1840; how long before is unknown, as none of the first members are now connected with the church, and no records, if in existence at all, are accessible. Among the early leading members, were Lyman Shaffer, Azuriah Fobes and Philip Morgan. The early meetings were held in barns, school-houses or wherever a place of suitable size could be procured. About 1840, a frame church was built, which stood about twenty years, then in 1859 or 1860, the congregation erected its present church edifice, a large and substantial frame, comfortably furnished within and surmounted by a bell. The membership aggregates about sixty-five. The church is served during the present year by Rev. Philip Kelser, who also has charge of congregations at East Union, Mohawk Village and Cullison's Ridge. A Sunday-school in a good, healthy condition, is superintended by F. M. Buxton.

An Episcopal congregation formerly existed in New Castle. It was organized about 1851, by Prof. George Dennison of Gambier College. The active co-operators in maintaining its existence were B. S. Lee, John Green and George Mc Daniel. A building was erected soon after the organization of the church. The pulpit was sup plied wholly by ministers from Gambier college Prof. Blake having charge after Prof. Dennison It's small membership became reduced by removals without compensating accessions, an about 1860, it disappeared, as an organization The building remains, and is used as a warehouse

A Christian church formerly stood in the southeastern part of the township, on Severn's ridge. The society was formed, and the church building erected, about the year 1840. John Grove, who came from near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about 1814, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 19, near where the church was afterward built; James Cox, David Morrison, Thomas Kincaid and Robert Copeland, were chief among its supporters. Rev. David Rice was the officiating minister at the organization. About 1865, the light of the church was extinguished, caused by the death and removal of members, leaving an inadequate number to maintain the church.

New Castle was probably the second town laid out in Coshocton county, Coshocton being the first. It was laid out in 1808, by Robert Giffen, but did not thrive, for some reasons, remaining almost a nonentity for more than a score of years. The residence of Mr. Giffen, a comfortable log cabin, was located here, in 1811, and soon after, the land upon which the village was platted was sold to John Ely, who kept a tavern here for several years. In 1830, John Clark laid out a village adjacent to the old plat, and called it West Liberty. Determined to make the village a success, he himself erected four or five dwelling houses, one of them a brick. Several years later, he sold the town to George McDaniel, who made an addition, and changed the name again to New Castle.

The village is pleasantly situated on high, rolling ground, and contains about 250 inhabitants.

George Lawrence sold the first goods hereabout 1832. Three years later, Shaffer & Ringwald owned a store, and before 1836 Calvin Hill was running a good hotel. Years before this, about 1820, Joseph Butler was the proprietor of a public-house. A pottery was formerly very successfully and extensively carried on here by the Riches and their successors, Collins, Butler and others, excellent materials being found in the vicinity. It ceased manufacturing several yearn ago. Another pottery on a somewhat smaller scale, was started about ten years ago, by Henry Lewis. It is still in operation. The wares are disposed of principally at Mount Vernon, Coshocton and intermediate points.

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Abram Dennis ran a tannery here many years ; it closed up business about ten years ago.

There are in the village at present, three stores where a general supply of goods are kept, owned by Cochran &. McKee, R. H. Cochran, and William Butler. Thomas Hull sells hardware and groceries; two blacksmith, one wagon, and one harness shop are also found, and the traveler has his choice of two hotels.

Dr. Samuel McElwee, a native of New Jersey, has practiced medicine in the village and vicinity since 1849. He has recently associated with him Dr. John Snider, a young physician. Other physicians, who by a long residence were identified with New Castle, were Drs. Willetts and Barger; the latter was killed by the explosion of a boiler of a steamboat at Louisville, Kentucky, while on a trip to the West, in 1843.

The school building is a large, neat-appearing, two-story brink, which has been in service for more than twenty years. Messrs. W. T. Knight and A. L. Smith are the present teachers.

The village is the home of one of the professors of the occult sciences, William Gorham, who claims to be able to discover hidden things, whether of the past or the future, and has sometimes created a sensation in the classic Owl creek valley.

Walhonding was platted in the summer of 1841, its proprietors being William K. Johnson, G. W. Sullivan and T. S. Humrickhouse. It la situated on the north side of the Walhonding river, and doubtless owes its existence to the building of the Walhonding canal, which passes through it. The land upon which it is situated is rough, a fact which may have had an influence in keeping the population down to about eighty souls. The village had in its youth visions of a glorious future and came very near realizing them, that is to say, a bill before the State legislature about 1847, for the creation of a new county, to comprise parts of Coshocton, Knox, Holmes, Muskingum and Licking counties, in which proposed new county Walhonding would have been centrally located failed in passing by a single vote.

The village contains two stores, owned by William C. Frick and George H. Rodehaver, two blacksmith shops and one small foundry, which is owned by Edward Dorset'. George Humrickhouse was the first store-keeper, James Gamble the first postmaster.

The main business of the village is done at Joseph S. McVey's flouring-mill, the water power for which is supplied by the canal. The mill was built shortly after the canal was constructed, by Albert and John Collins and James Gamble. In 1844, it was sold to J. S. McVey and Edwin Lewis. The distillery which was formerly connected with the mill was abandoned in 1845, and the grist-mill which had hitherto done only custom work was enlarged, and the proprietors now began to manufacture and ship flour extensively. In 1850, Mr. Lewis died of cholera at New Castle, and since then Mr. McVey has had sole ownership of the mill. He has since considerably enlarged the building, so that now a large amount of wheat can be stored in the building. It is forty feet long by thirty-six wide, five stories high, and with its four run of buhrs has a capacity of seventy-five or eighty barrels of flour per day.

A small Methodist Episcopal society existed here several years ago, and steps were taken to erect a building. When it was partially built the society perished, and it is unlikely the building will be finished.

Mount Airy was the title very appropriately bestowed upon a little village that stood on an elevated ridge of ground in the extreme southwestern corner of the township. It was laid out in 1816, by Elijah Dillon. David Melick resided on the site of the village before this date. He subsequently sold out to a Mr. Tilton. A school-house was built here as early as 1820. Mrs. Kezia Alsach, the wife of a Methodist local preacher, was probably the first teacher. She was succeeded by Arthur Scott, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, a better educated man than most people at that time. The village may have y contained as many as twenty houses, including d, one blacksmith and one shoe shop. It is uncertain whether a store was kept here. It has long since come to naught, having been vacated, except several lots, twenty years ears ago.

576 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

CHAPTER LXIII.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP.

Location-Physical Features-Organization-Settlement-

Mills-Distilleries-Taverns-Bridges-Schools-Millsville

-Eveneburg-Orange-Postoffices-Churches.

OXFORD township is situated in the eastern part of the county and bounded as follows: On the north by Adams township, on the east by Tuscarawas county, on the south by Guernsey county and Linton township and on the west by Lafayette township. The Tuscarawas river flows through the northern part of it from east to west. Several small streams enter it from the north, the most noticeable being Evans creek. There are no tributaries from the south. The level White Eyes plains having a width of from one to two miles stretch across the township just south of the river. South of this the surface is rough and the streams flow in an opposite direction from the river, to Wills creek. This latter stream in one of its tortuous meanderings enters Oxford township from Linton and cuts off fifteen or twenty acres from the body of the township. The soil on the plains is usually gravelly with a sandy loam in patches. A clay soil covers the southern hills while that of the river bottoms is the usual rich loam. The timber which grew upon the hills was vigorous and of varied kinds including .sugar, oak, walnut, hickory, poplar and other less important varieties. Sycamore was the prevailing type in the lowest river bottoms while just above this was found the heaviest and best timber in the township. The plains as a rule were scantily timbered, if at all, and were doubtless the haunts of the game-seeking red man. That they frequented the plains and the valley which skirts the river is made manifest by the numerous relics which have been found here. Tomahawks, bullets, stone mortars and pestles, various silver ornaments and pieces of pottery were often picked up by the early settlers. Small mounds, too, were scattered here and there along the valley, indicating that the pre-historic race also had dwelt here ages ago. One of these mounds, standing on Willis Richard's farm on the western side of the township, was about thirty feet in diameter originally and eight or ten feet in height but modern. cultivation has removed nearly every trace of it.

Oxford township was organized in the fall of 1811, very soon after the county was formed. Its original boundaries included a large portion of the eastern part of the county, but it was gradually reduced in size by the organization of other townships until it reached its present limits in 1835. The first, second and third sections are military sections; the fourth or northeastern section consists of congress land, and was surveyed in 1803, by Alexander Holmes. The first or northeast section was probably located by Matthew Denman, as he had possession of it very early and sold portions of it to incoming settlers. The original proprietor of the second or northwest section was William Steel, of Essex county, New Jersey, whose patent dates February 11, 1800. James Williams, of Annapolis, Maryland, was the original proprietor of section 3. His patent is dated March 21, 1800. None of these land owners became residents in the township, but sooner or later sold it to those who settled here.

There is no doubt that one of the first settlements in Coshocton county was made in Oxford township, yet it seems impossible at this time to determine definitely the date at which it was made. Hunt's Historical Collections says : "It is believed by some that the first settlement made in the county was made in this township. It would seem that, at all events, the same season Charles Williams was raising his corn on the prairie, Isaac and Henry Evans and Charles and Esaias Baker, all from Virginia, were raising a crop on the Tuscarawas, near Evansburg. Williams had come up the Muskingum, and the four above named had come down the Tuscarawas." It is known that Williams was living on the prairie as early as 1801, and probably a year or two before. Charles Baker, a son of Esaias Baker, now living in Linton ton township, states that his father, his father's brother Charles, and Isaac and Henry Evans, came out together from Virginia at a time when there was not a white man on the Tuscarawas river, but he is unable to give the year. Lewis Corbit, of Adams township, tells that his father, Robert Corbit, emigrated

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 577

with Isaac Evans from Virginia in the year 1804. Calhoun's Historical Sketches, written thirty years ago, states, that "In 1803 Judge Evans settled where Evansburg now stands. There were also others who settled around him soon afterward, forming what was known at the time as White Eyes Plains settlement." These dates are irreconcilable, but it would seem that the Charles Williams settlement, on the Walhonding, was made first. The Evansburg settlement was probably the second one made in the county. The two Bakers came out in the spring, planted and tended a crop of corn on the plains just south of Orange, then returned to Virginia, harvested a crop there, and in the fall of the same year moved out permanently with their families, cut their new crop here and erected cabins. Esaias Baker leased twenty acres from a Mr. Newell, in the western part of the township, on the farm which George Loos afterward purchased. Both Esaias and Charles, a few years later, moved to Linton township, becoming two of the earliest settlers there.

Isaac Evans was the central figure of this settlement, and was a man whale influence was felt in all parts of the county. Soon after he moved out he purchased a tract of land and built his cabin south of the river, close to the bank, just across from Evansburg. The high waters which rose and surrounded his cabin soon after, obliged him to move farther back from the river. He raised and commanded a company during the war of 1812, serving under General Harrison. He was also one of the early associate justices in the county. His brother Henry, who accompanied him here, purchased a farm adjoining his on the east, and being a bachelor, spent his days in solitude there, engaged in farming and stock raising.

Quite a colony of early settlers were from near Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Perhaps the earliest of them was Philip Waggoner, who came to Oxford township in 1806. He died a few years later. Philip Wolfe came soon after, and settled at Wolfe's Corners, a little north of the center of the township, where Henry Wolfe now lives. He died in September, 1825. Still later, George Leighninger emigrated from the same place. He was a young man when he came, and afterward married a daughter of Mr. Wolfe, who is still living with her son in Lafayette township, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. George Loos came in 1811. Like the others, he came overland, moving in a five-horse team, and settling at Loos' Corners, in the western part of the township. He purchased his farm from Robert Newell, who had been living on it and moved farther west after he had disposed of it.

John Junkins, an Irishman, emigrated to the township, perhaps as early as 1806 or 1808. He lived on the Cadiz road, at the farm now owned by F, Sergeant, about a mile west of Wolfe's Corners. He was the biggest man on the plains, and a genuine Irishman. Two sons, John and David, lived with him, also a son-in-law, Matthew Gray, who was of the same nationality. George Anspaugh, from near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, came about 1811, and settled on the place now occupied by Jacob. Wolfe, a short distance west of Wolfe's Corners. Moses Morgan, another early settler, was a New Jerseyman, and settled about a mile east of Anspaugh, on the Cadiz road. He afterwards sold out and went into business at Evansburg.

John Mills, a cabinetmaker, lived where Jacob Starker now does, the southeast quarter of section 12. He once met with a mishap that might have terminated fatally. He was watching for game, at a deer-lick, one sultry day, concealed behind some bushes, and to drive away the pestiferous mosquitos that bothered him, was waving a brush about his face and head. Another hunter, approaching, perceived the stir, and mistaking Mills for a deer, banged away at him with his rifle, and shot off his nose.

The Mulvains, Joseph, John and William, were here in 1810, and perhaps earlier. They settled in the eastern part of the township, north of the river. Joseph was the owner of a keel-boat which plied between New Philadelphia and Zanesville, carrying all kinds of freight. The mode of locomotion was by poling it. "Running boards" were attached to the outside, upon which about a dozen men would stand, with long poles, by the use of which they would make the boat fairly fly through the water.

Andrew, Ezekiel and Samuel McFarland, came about 1812. William Welsh, joining George

578 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Loos on the east, was here in 1811. James Lisk came about the time the Junkins did. He married a daughter of John Junkins and afterward a Miss Price, who is still living in this township. Mr. Lisk was an early school teacher.

Milling facilities were no better here in pioneer days than elsewhere on the frontier. In fact, this being one of the earliest settled districts, the first white men were obliged to travel further to get a little grinding done than the first settlers of most other townships, As late as 1812, Zanesville and New Philadelphia were the usual milling points. Years before this, Esaias Baker and Isaac Evans, having heard that there was a power mill near Zanesville, loaded a canoe with corn and started for it. When they reached the mill they found it to be quite a patent affair. "Two canoes had been fastened just at a ripple in the river and a small paddle-wheel set between the two boats, and this, turned by the rippling waters, furnished the power to turn a large-sized hand-mill."

Isaac Evans erected the first mill in the township. It was built about 1818, on Evans creek. It was a little affair, with one run of buhrs, but answered very well the purpose for which it was intended. A saw-mill stood at the same place. They changed possession repeatedly, and were abandoned about twenty-five years ago.

About twenty years ago a large grist-mill was built on the canal, about a mile west of Orange, by John Wolfs and Timothy Emerson. John Wolfs is the present owner.

George Loos erected a little distillery on his place soon after he moved into the township. He died in 1821, and his son, Christopher, ran it for many years. A number of years later Mr. Shank operated one for ten or twelve years, on the Susanna Appis place, in the western part of section 19. Another was built on the canal about 1848, by Patrick Tregent, an Englishman.

The Cadiz road was the first one constructed through the township, and, in early days, was a principal highway of travel and emigration, so much so that several taverns flourished here for awhile in close proximity to each other. The first one was Philip Wolfe's at the corners.

Daniel Loos relates that when his father moved out from Pennsylvania, in 1811, Mr. Wolfs came out a distance with a team to help him over some of the big hills in Tuscarawas county. He was keeping tavern at that time. His tavern sign was a picture of General Washington mounted upon a white horse, an emblem which then, doubtless, appealed loudly to American patriotism. George Leighninger tended bar here for a while, but afterward bought a farm close by and moved upon it.

John Jenkins soon after hung out a large wooden " blue ball " to the gaze of the passer-by, inviting him to partake of the entertainment provided within, about a mile west of Wolfs. This was an important place in those days. Jenkins was postmaster for a great many years and also a justice of the peace, and the township elections were held here at his tavern.

Moses Morgan, about 1820, opened a third tavern about a half mile east of Wolfe's tavern: When he sold the place some ten years later, to Mr. Stewart, the tavern was abandoned.

A ferry was established very early at John Miskimen's place, in the eastern part of the township. It was kept for a number of years by Adam Fletcher, and afterwards by the father of Judge Burt.

After Evansburg was laid out and became a little business center, a ferry was kept here for a number of years. Moses Morgan and John B. Stout were the chief manipulators of the ferry-boat at this point.

The first bridge built in the township was at Miskimen's. It was built about 1854, and cost $10,000. This was afterward disturbed and some what rebuilt. The river having, in 1861, cut a new channel about three-quarters of a mile to the east, a new bridge became necessary, the cost of which was about $9,000. The bridge at Orange was built in 1870. The masonry, of which N. W. Buxton was contractor, cost $8,311; the superstructure (iron) was contracted for by J. H. Davenport. It cost $7,258.

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Loius railroad passes through the township, east and west, crossing the Tuscarawas river near the eastern lice. It has one station in the township-Oxford, near the center of the township. The Ohio canal crosses the township north of the river. In

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 579

its course it usually closely follows the river bed.

The second school in the county was probably taught here. Mr. Calhoun says: " In 1806, or thereabouts, Mr. Joseph Harris taught a school in the settlement, at Evansburg. This is the second intimation of the existence of a school which we have received. Here the widow Johnson, wife of Adam Johnson, deceased, remembers being sent to attend the school." The first school which Mr. Calhoun speaks of was held three or four years earlier up the Walhonding. An early school-house was built about 1812, at John Junkins' place, in which James Lisk was one of the first teachers. George Leighninger afterward' taught here.

The earliest attempt at town making was made by John Mills, who, in 1815, laid out a little village on the great bend of the Tuscarawas river, south of it. He called it Millsville. Several cabins were reared on the spot, but for some inscrutable reason the village failed to thrive, and soon passed from the knowledge of men.

Evansburg was surveyed September 4, 1830 Isaac Evans was the proprietor, and gave it its name. The original plat lay wholly north of the canal, but two years later an addition of five lots was made south of it. For a few years it grew vigorously. Moses Morgan owned the first dry goods store. He died a few years after it was opened, anti John Stout became the possessor of it, Joseph Watkins kept another store, and built a Large warehouse, dealing extensively in grain. Philip Wolfe, Jr., ran a tannery here for a while. His father, Philip Wolfe, Sr., had built one about two miles south of this at a very early day, and Philip, Jr., operated it here for a time, then removed it to Evansburg. Isaac Evans, Jr., was the village inn keeper. The building of Orange about a half mile to the west gave Evansburg its deathblow. The river at Evansburg could be forded only with great difficulty, if at all, and a ferry must be kept here constantly, while the stream at Orange was easily forded. Mr. Watkins removed his warehouse, and the village speedily fell to pieces. Several dilapidated structures mark the site of the once flourishing canal port.

Orange, situated on the north bank of the river, in the northwestern part of the township, was laid out in 1839. William K. Johnson and G. A. Humerickhouse were the proprietors of that part of it which lies north of the canal, and Samuel Wolfe proprietor of that part south of it. Hugh Maxwell erected the first house. It was a frame, still standing, on lot 8, 'corner of Oxford and Water streets, now occupied by A. Peck. The next building was a warehouse, erected by Harrison Butler, on lot 49. These two buildings were erected at about the same time. Mr. Butler soon after sold the warehouse to Roe & Armstrong, and it has since been controlled by various persons. John Richmond is the present owner. A second warehouse was built about 1850 by P. C. Wolfe & Co. Five or six years later it was converted by them into a steam flouring mill, which was operated five or six years with unsatisfactory results, and the mill works were then removed about a mile down the canal to Wolfe & Emerson's mill, and the building restored to its original use. It is now owned by J. P. Peck & Co. From 40,000 to 50,000 bushels of wheat are annually bought at these two houses.

About 1842 George Augustine built a saw-mill on .the canal. P. C. Wolfe & Co. purchased it and attached a carding machine, which was run for some years. The building was taken away several years ago.

There are two dry goods stores in the village at this time, owned by Richmond & Son, and J. P. Peck & Co.

One of the earliest postoffices in the county is White Eyes Plains. John Junkins was probably the first postmaster. He was succeeded by James Lisk. The office is still kept at Oxford Station, by the agent, William Coles. When Evansburg was laid out, a post-office, which is a requisite of every well-appointed village, was obtained and Joseph H. Watkins and Moses Morgan were successively postmasters. About 1853 it was removed to Orange, where it still exists, though retaining the old name. James R. Johnson was postmaster here.

Orange chapel, a Methodist Episcopal church, the only edifice of the kind which graces Orange, is a handsome little frame, thirty by forty, which

580 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

was erected In 1875, at a cost of $2,200. It was erected mainly by the efforts of John Richmond and J. B. Peck. The society was formed of members from other congregations in the neighborhood. The membership at present is small.

The Union Methodist Protestant church is located near the center of the township, on the Cadiz road. The house of worship was erected twenty or more years ago, upon a lot donated for the purpose by Henry and William Wolfs. Before it was built services had been conducted in the Union school-house close by. The first meetings were held in Moses Morgan's barn, where about 1840, shortly after the class was formed, a great revival was held. Among the earliest members were Moses Morgan, Joseph Mulvain, John Stout, Joseph Evans, and Jenkin Whiteside. The membership is now about fifty. Rev. Wells is the pastor.

White Eyes Baptist church is situated about a fourth of a mile east of the Union Methodist church. It was organized in 1825 and until 1870 was connected with the West Lafayette Baptist church. An account of this church up to the date of separation has been included in the history of the West Lafayette church and need not be .repeated. The congregation still worships in the brick church erected in 1850 which is in good condition. The membership is about forty. Since 1870 there have been but two pastors in charge, Elders E. B. Senter and F. Hodder. The latter ministers to the church at this tune. The Sabbath-school is well kept up but like most other organizations of the kind in the country is held only during the summer. Joseph Keims is its superintendent.

A German Lutheran church stands just this side of the county line in the southeastern part of the township. It is a small frame building built about ten years ago. The congregation is very limited in point of number and belongs principally to Tuscarawas county. Mr. Hockenbraugh is a leading member from this township.

Near the northeastern corner of the township stands a United Brethren church known as Everall's church which was built many years ago. The principal early members were John Everall and wife, John Mackey and wife, James King and wife, and Thomas Smith and wife. Its condition is prosperous.

A small congregation of Disciples have for several years been holding services at McCune's school-house in the southern part of the township.

A United Brethren society existed years ago in Orange. Preaching commenced there about 1853 in the school-house and was continued about twelve years. The society then disbanded; cause, loss of membership and a minister who proved to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. The principal members were John Richmond, William Maxwell and John Norman.

A Methodist Protestant church at one time flourished in Evansburg. A brick church was erected but never finished. The village declined and the members removed to other places. Services were then held for a few years in Orange but they ceased many years ago.

CHAPTER LXIV.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

Name-Organization-Physical Features-Early Settlements'

-East Union-Churches-Schools-Mills.

THIS is one of more than a score of townships in Ohio that commemorate the name and achievements of Commodore Perry on lake Erie.. It was organized in 1817, at a time when his naval glory was still fresh in the minds of the people. The township, as then erected, was ten miles long and five wide, including what are now Perry and Bedford townships. This territory had previously been a part of New Castle township, which was organized at the formation of the county. The elections in Perry township were held at the house of Elias James, almost centrally located as the township then existed, until 1825, when Bedford township was formed and Perry was reduced to its present limits, five miles square, being township 5 of range 9, according to the original survey of the military lands. It is located in the western part of the county and is bounded on the south by Pike and

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 582

a corner of Licking county, and by Knox county on the west.

The surface is undulating and in some places might be called hilly, though it is not so broken as in many townships. Timber of a thrifty growth covered the entire surface at the coming of the pioneers. The soil in the main is a lime stone clay, becoming sandy in places. Excellent springs are found in all parts of the township and give rise to quite a number of little streams. The general direction of these is southeast. Mohawk run has its source in the northwestern part and flows eastwardly into Bedford township. Winding Fork also rises in the northwestern corner of the township and pursues a southeasterly course, crossing into Pike township.

The entire township is composed of congress land. It was surveyed in 1803, by John Matthews, and began to be settled seven or eight years later. It is not known who the first settler was. Elias James came to the township from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1812 His daughter, Mrs. Noah Buxton still occupying the old home farm, the northeast quarter of section 20, at the time of her father's emigration was four years old and recollects that there were then but three settlers in the township, Henry Hull. John Neldon and Henry Grim. They had been here at least a year or two before Mr. James came, perhaps a little longer. John Neldon was also from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and Mr. James stopped at his cabin, on the northeast quarter of section 0, until he could provide himself and family with a place of shelter; he first settled in section 11, but very soon Henry Grim wanted to leave this part of the country and sold his claim upon the realty he occupied to Mr. James, who forthwith took possession. Grim had a little difficulty with the Indians, and had grave apprehensions that they wanted his scalp. The trouble was of this wise : Grim, with a Teutonic earnestness and application, was endeavoring to raise a crop of corn upon a little patch of ground he had cleared, and as fences were as yet unknown, his success was seriously compromised by incursions of deer at night. This naturally irritated the German, and many a deer paid the penalty of death for its rash intrusion upon the premises. The Wyandot Indians lived somewhere in the vicinity and allowed their horses to roam at will during the night. One of these, which they had stolen from the whites somewhere, had not forgotten its provender of old, and possessed a penchant for the succulent green corn of Grim's planting, which was decidedly detrimental to its growth. Grim repeatedly warned the Indians to keep the horse away or he would shoot it; but his words fell unheeded upon the ears of the red men. Forbearance at length ceased to be a virtue in Grim's estimation, and the noble brute felt a victim to his laden messenger of death. He thus incurred the animosity of the savages, and as the clouds of war lowered in the West, be deemed it the part of prudence to remove beyond the reach of the tomahawk, and accordingly went East.

Henry Hull was a Pennsylvanian, and entered the northwest quarter of section 19. He subsequently removed to Knox county, where he spent his declining days. John Neldon and Elias James both lived in Perry township the remainder of their lives, the latter dying at the age of seventy-seven years.

Mr. Hull lived on friendliest terms with the Indians, before they abandoned this country, and was often in their company on hunting expeditious. A camp was located near the center of section 20, in the southern part of the township. Mr. Hull was accustomed to relate that he visited this camp one day, and was invited by the Indians to take supper with them. The prospective meal was to consist of mush, which was then boiling in a large copper kettle. This had been used just before for tanning deer skins, and Mr. Hull observed numerous patches of hair, etc., in the boiling cauldron. Having already accepted the invitation to stay, he could not leave, but, the meal not being to his liking, he made his au revoirs to his dusky acquaintances, as best he could, and much to their disappointment and disgust, took his departure.

Until 1814 there was little progress in the settlement of this township, but about that time settlers . began to arrive in quick succession and, in a few more years, the entire township was dotted with cabins and cornfields. This being wholly congress land, there was nothing to check emigration, and as it is nearly all susceptible of

582 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

cultivation, it was rapidly entered, mostly by resident settlers.

George and John Mowry came about 1818. They were from Pennsylvania. John entered the southwest quarter of section 12. George served three months in the army in 1814, and afterward moved west.

In 1814 William Coulter settled upon the northeast quarter of section 12. Early in life he had spent two years under Nathaniel Massie and Sullivan in surveying the western part of the State, and on his way home passed through what was afterward Coshocton. The section he entered in 1812, coming out from Pennsylvania to select it. He was a practical surveyor, and surveyed much of the western part of the county, it is said, with "a grape-vine chain."

In 1815 Akey Lee came out from Turkey Foot, Pennsylvania, located the southeast quarter of section 8, and erected thereon a cabin; he then returned home, expecting to emigrate with his family the next spring, but during that winter he died of " cold plague." His widow, Mary, however, determined to brave the hardships of pioneer life alone; and with a family of small children, the oldest of whom was but fourteen years, sought the western home, and by their assistance successfully weathered the rough storms incident to the frontier. Her descendants are still represented in the township.

The Pigmans were prominent in early times. Joseph W. Pigman came from Allegheny county to Muskingum county, near Dresden, in 1810, and two years later moved to New Castle township and built a cabin. Some time after, discovering that he was on military land, he came to this township. He became a noted Methodist preacher, and took some part in politics, representing the county in the legislature several times, and being one of the associate judges of the county. He had four sons, Nathaniel, Daniel, John and James. The first entered part of the northwest quarter of section 7. The last was a minister of some note; he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church as local preacher from 1837 to 1866, when he became a minister of the Christian Union church, and so continued until his death, which occurred in this township, October 26, 1869.

A settlement of Germans came in early, perhaps in 1815, most of them from Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Among them were Peter Ault, who entered the southwest quarter of section 23; Leonard Divan, the southwest quarter of section 18 and the northwest quarter of section 23; his two sons, John and Henry, the latter owning the northwest quarter of section 22; Henry Billman, the southwest quarter of section 21; George Sossaman, the southeast quarter of section 15; Frederick Shrake, the southeast quarter of section 23, and Jacob Shrake, the north half of the southeast quarter of section 19. The last mentioned moved to Wisconsin, and from last accounts was still living.

The Irish nationality was represented by Adam Hurray, who, about 1816, entered the west part of the southeast quarter of section 6, and his brother-in-law, John Trimble, who preceded him a year or two and entered the northeast quarter of the same section.

Bedford county, Pennsylvania, furnished a goodly number of the foremost settlers. Besides those mentioned there were, from this county, John Fry, who entered the southeast quarter of section 20 (he emigrated about 1815, with his brother, Enoch Fry, who settled in Bedford township); Isaac Dickens, the northeast quarter of section 21; Robert Elders, the northeast quarter of section 23; Daniel Fitzgerald, who owned a part of the southwest quarter of section 10; Henry Neldon, the northwest quarter of section 20; Nathaniel Rush, the northwest quarter of section 2; and Edward D. Long, part of the southeast quarter of section 19.

Henry McVey and Joseph Jones came as early as 1815. The former owned the southwest quarter of section 19; the latter, part of the northeast quarter of the same section. John Berry, a Marylander, entered the southeast quarter of section 8. Joshua, William, Benjamin, Joseph and Caleb Cochran, five brothers directly from Maryland, but originally from Dublin, Ireland, emigrated about 1814. Joshua settled on the southwest quarter of section 4, William on part of the southwest quarter of section 7; the other three did not acquire property in this township. Absalom Tipton, a Pennsylvanian, located, about 1816, on the southwest quarter of section 1; John Scott,

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 583

about the same time, entered the southwest quarter of section 5.

William Dillon, father of Israel Dillon, the present clerk of the court, came from Green county, Pennsylvania to the township about 1815, entered and cleared a quarter section, which he continued to occupy until his death, in 18F2, he being then sixty-eight years of age.

East Union is the one village of the township. It is situated in the southwest part of the northeast quarter of section 7. Two rival villages once flourished in this vicinity. The first of these, New Guilford, was laid out by Dr. Elisha Guilford Lee, March 30, 1825. He was the first physician of the township, coming here from Mount Vernon. The village plat was located a short distance west of what is now East Union, and consisted of fifty lots. A quarrel arose between the doctor and John Conaway, who owned the quarter-section just east of New Guilford, and the latter thought that if Dr. Lee could found a town, he could do the same. Accordingly, in April, 1826, he laid out a town plat on the ridge facing New Guilford, a little valley intervening. It consisted of thirty-six lots, and was dedicated Claysville by the proprietor. Then, the antagonism waxed hot, and each village sought to improve itself at the expense of the other. Conaway possessed some advantage.. He was a carpenter, and agreed to assist in erecting the cabins of settlers in his town, a consideration which prevailed with a number. After some years the two proprietors clasped hands across the intervening chasm and consolidated. By act of legislature, the name of the town then became East Union. In 1831 an addition of fifty lots, connecting the two villages, was made by Dr. Lee ; a small addition had previously been made to Claysville by Conaway. East Union now includes only what was formerly Claysville, New Guilford having been practically vacated, and now used for farming purposes. The Ohio Gazetteer, published in 1833, says, that in that year Claysville, or East Union, contained forty-one dwelling houses, two physicians, five stores, one oil-mill, four cabinet makers, one tailor, two shoemakers, two blacksmiths, one hatter, and several carpenters. The population was estimated to be nearly 300; in 1830 there were seventy-eight inhabitants; at present there are less than 100. Dr. Lee secured the postoffice, and for a while was postmaster ; then by some means Mr. Conaway received the appointment. It still retains its original name, New Guilford. The first store was opened at Claysville, by John Pigman. It was owned by John Jacobston, of Dresden, and kept up for a few years only. At present there are two dry goods establishments here, owned by J. W. Allen and Elijah Richards; one miscellaneous store, John Martin; and two groceries, Adam McCain and Mr. Allen. Dr. David McElwee is the physician. The school-house is a two-story building, erected about 1870, and belonging to the adjacent districts. William S. Kilpatrick and Miss Nancy Marshall were the first teachers in this building.

The township is well supplied with churches. There are now in active operation three Methodist Episcopal, two Baptist, one Christian Union and one Lutheran church; besides, there have been several organizations, now defunct. The Goshen Methodist Episcopal church is the pioneer religious society in the township. The church is located on the Coulter farm in the eastern part of section 12. About 1820 there was built here a hewed log structure which served as a house of worship till 1859 when it burned. The earliest meetings were held in the school-house where Rev. Thomas Carr preached. Other early ministerial laborers in this field were David Limerick, Pardew and James Taylor. Rev. Joseph Pigman, Rev. John Cullison, Mrs. Nancy Wright, Henry McVey, William Lee and William Coulter were strong pillars in the organization in its early life. In 1860 the present comfortable frame edifice was erected on the site of the old church. The membership at present scarcely exceeds twenty-five. Rev. A. A. McCullough is pastor. A Sunday-school, superintended by Joseph Coulter, is a successful branch of the church work. Wilson's Chapel, or the Methodist church on Cullison's ridge, lies within a half mile of the northern line of the township. The first class was organized at the house of Shadrack Cullison fully sixty years ago. Here and in other cabins in the neighborhood John Almack and wife,

584 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Shadrack Cullison and wife, James Crouther and wife, Jesse Cullison and wife, Thomas Almack and wife, and others were accustomed to worship for a number of years. About 1832 they built a log church and several years later ceiled and weather-boarded it. The present structure was reared about 1857. It is an unpretending frame, about thirty by forty feet in size and cost $1,100. It was dedicated by Rev. Harvey Wilson. The membership is about fifty; the present pastor, Rev. Philip Kelser. The Sunday-school has been conducted 'for many years during pleasant weather and numbers about forty members.

The third Methodist church is at East Union. As nearly as can now be determined it was organized in 1832. For a year or two services were held in the village school-house; then, about 1834, a meeting-house was built on a lot donated for the purpose, by Dr. E. G. Lee. Among the pioneer members were J. N. Edwards and wife, Joseph McDonald and wife, John Davis and wife, Charles Conoway and wife, and John Conaway and wife. Revs. Carper, Thos. Carr and John Walker were among the first ministers. In 1878, a new church was built, .mainly through the efforts of H. W. Lee, J. W. Lee, Enoch Berry, Abrarn Taylor, D. McElwee, T. W. Cullison and N. W. Cullison. It is a neat frame structure, thirty-two by forty-five feet, capped with a bell, and costing $1,525. The building was dedicated January, 1879, by Rev. James Kellem, Rev. Philip Kelser being pastor at the time. The membership is fifty-six. N. W. Cullison is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has an average attendance during the entire year of seventy-five.

Mohawk Regular Baptist church, located in the northeast part of the township, was organized about the year 1841 or 1842. Bosley Parrish, John Berry and wife, John Neldon, Alexander Dunlap and wife, Samuel Pritchard and wife and William Buxton and wife were early, prominent communicants. In 1846, the membership was forty-nine, and a few years later had increased to about 100, but since then it has gradually decreased, and is at present about forty. Soon after the organization, a small frame church was built which still serves as the house of worship. The ministers who have labored as pastors of this church are as follows: S. Wickham, J. Frey, Jr., R. R. Whittaker, A. W. Arnold, E. B. Senter, S. W. Frederick, H. Clark and James K. Linebaugh, the present pastor.

Perry Regular Baptist church, located near the southwest corner of the township, was formerly a branch of the Tomica church of Washington township, and was organized in 1860, as an independent body, with twenty-seven members. Hezekiah Howell and wife, Isaac Winkle and wife, Ohio Oxley and wife, and Stephen Underwood and wife, were among its first members. Their neat little church was built soon after they became a separate organization, under the ministry of H. West. The membership has slowly but steadily advanced, and now numbers about forty. The ministers of this church have been H. West, R. R. Whitaker, E. B. Senter, A. W. Odor, E. Frey, A. W. Arnold and H. Clark.

The Christian Union church, at East Union, was organized in 1866, with sixteen or eighteen members, by Rev. Givens, of Columbus. A series of meetings were held soon after by Rev. Benjamin Green, which resulted in a number of accessions. Among the earliest members were Israel Dillon, James Pigman, William Pigman, James Barkelew, Jackson and Joseph Mills, William Perry, Jacob Baughman and Wheeler Cullison. George W. Stevenson was the first minister; he was succeeded by James Pigman. The membership increased steadily for a while, and at one time was perhaps the largest in the township, but owing to many removals and deaths, it has been reduced to about forty. Services were held in the old Presbyterian church until 1879. In that year a substantial frame, thirty-one by forty-one feet, was erected at a cost of $1,000. The church was dedicated December, 1879, by Revs. H. J. Duckworth and James Lamp.

The Winding Fork Evangelical Lutheran church stands in the southern part of the township, in the eastern part of section 17. The present small frame building was erected in the summer of 1880. The old meeting-house occupied the same site and was built about 1848. Before it was built, preaching had been held for some

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 585

years in the school-house and in Absolom Wolf's barn. The early members were George Sossaman, Absolom Wolf, Henry Kiefer, John Sossaman, Jacob Huffman, their families, George Beckley, and some others. Rev. John Booker is the minister now in charge. The membership is about forty.

Am Episcopal church, known as St. Matthew's, formerly flourished in the western part of the township. As early as 1823, a log church was , erected, which gave way some years later to a substantial brick, still standing, in the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section G. John Trimble, Adam Murray, John Scott, Wilson and William Rodden, and George Melick were members with its early membership. The congregation at one time was of considerable size. It was supplied by ministers from Gambler. Regular services were suspended some ten years ago.

A Presbyterian church once existed in New Guilford. A house of worship was built in 1837 or 1838, and occupied some twenty years, when the organization dissolved. Connected with it were Andrew and Samuel McCammant, Harvey Hoss, Ezekiel Boggs, George Knight, Nathaniel Herron and others. The building was removed only two or three years ago.

An old school Baptist congregation had a meeting-house in the dim past, along the eastern lime of the township, in the northeast quarter of section 10. Revs. McGuire and Crabtree once preached here to a flourishing society, which included the names of John Pritchard, Solomon Tipton, Joseph Barret, William Dillon and others, but it has long since been numbered with the dead.

Of the early schools in this township, as elsewhere, much may be learned from the following agreement between a teacher and his subscribers, made nearly sixty years ago. It is said that for some unknown reason this school was never held, but be this as it may, the contract is worthy of preservation as exhibiting the means by which schools could them be procured. The original document is in the possession of T. B. Tidball, of New Bedford, and leads as follows

JOHN L. MEREDITH

proposes opening school in the Methodist meeting-house. near William Coulter's, in Perry township, Coshocton county, Ohio, on Monday, the first day of October, 1823, for the term of three months, or thirteen weeks, reserving to himself every-other Saturday, and agrees to keep said school under good, wholesome regulations and strict order. To open the same at 9 o'clock A. M,, and continue till 12 at moon; commencing again at 1 P. M., and close at half-past 4 P. M., each day, as near as possible, and agrees to teach and instruct all those placed under tuition, in spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic, to the best of his ability and understanding. In consideration whereof, we whose names are hereto subscribed, do agree to pay him, J, Meredith, the sum of one dollar and seventy-five cents for each scholar annexed to our respective names, in the following articles, at these respective rates, viz: Wheat at fifty cents per bushel, rye at forty cents per bushel, corm at twenty-five cents per bushel, delivered in Woolford's, Meredith's, Ault's or Given's mills, as he may direct. Flour at two dollars per hundred pounds, pork at two and a quarter cents per pound, beef at two and a half and three cents per pound, butter at eight cents per pound, tallow at ten cents per pound, beeswax at twenty-five cents per pound, flax at ten cents per pound, wool at forty cents per pound, flax linen at thirty-seven and a half cents per yard, tow at twenty cents, flax and tow at thirty cents per yard, linsey, colored, fifty-six and a quarter cents per yard, eggs at six and a quarter cents per dozen, and towels at six and a quarter cents, to be delivered within said term at said Meredith's dwelling at such times as he may occasionally direct. It being agreed that should it be proven to the satisfaction of a majority of the subscribers that said Meredith neglects his business as a teacher, they are to pay for the time he may have been employed and dismiss him. School to consist of mot less than twenty-five nor more than thirty regular subscribed scholars; the said Meredith making good all lost time at the end of the term. In testimony whereof we have hereto set our hands this tenth day of September, 1823.

JOHN L. MEREDITH.

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. SCHOLARS,

William Coulter........................................ 2

J. W. Pigman ............................................ 2

James Curty .......................:................ ..... 2

James Cullison . .....................................:.. 2 1/2

Cornelius Lynch......................................... 1

Barney Lynch....................................:........ 1

Henry Richard............................................ 2

Aguila Stradler............................. ............. 2

Richard Copeland ............... ..................... 1

Elias James ........................... ..... ..............1 1/2

586 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

John Fry. ................................................. 1 1/2

Henry Fry ................................................ 2

Aaron Wright ........ . ................................ 1

William Hortenbrook................................ 1

George Parets ............................................ 1

John Cullison............................................. 1 1/2

Jacob Phillips ............................................ 2

Mary Dillon............................................... 1

Henry McVey............................................1

Joseph Jones .............................................1 1/2

John N. Edwards....................................... 1/2

The first school-house in the township was built about 1817, on the Hull farm or the north west quarter of section 19. The first teacher was James Cane, a good scholar but too severe in his discipline to please the people. He taught only one term, and was succeeded by John Winteringer, a good natural preacher, who permitted the children under his charge to do just about as they wished. Joseph Pigman was next installed teacher and remained in the school for a number of years, so long that it was generally known as the Pigman school. The building was finally destroyed by fire, and a school-house was then built on the Coulter place, near the Goshen Methodist church. It was not long till a number of others were started in different parts of the township. Peter Ault in early times had a little hand-mill which, unlike the little water-mills along the streams, did not fail in dry weather, and hence became quite popular among his neighbors when the water was low. It was used so much and ground corn so amazingly slow that he constructed a much larger pair of stones, which were set up on end. To one of them he attached a pole ten feet long, which turned like the handle of a grindstone. When the creeks would fail the neighbors would congregate here after their day's work was done, each bringing his sack of corn to grind. Half a dozen or more young people would seize the handle, "long drawn out," and make the buhrs fairly spin around. The merry frolic would continue sometimes half through the night, until each had at least corn-meal enough to last his family the next day. Mr. Ault also had a little watermill on Winding Fork, with one run of buhrs, which he operated until his dam was swept away in a freshet. It was not rebuilt. Frederick Shrake at the same time, about 1822, started a mill a little further up the stream. It had two run of stone, and between it and Ault's mill there was a lively competition. Robert Elder, as early as 1820, had a little corncracker in operation, which lasted, however, only a short time. A little sawing and wool carding was carried on at the same time. John Pritchard, about 1830, put up a saw-mill on Mohawk run, which was run for a number of years. The present Gault mill was built by Samuel Whitmore, in 1836 or earlier.

CHAPTER LXV.

PIKE TOWNSHIP.

Boundaries-Topography-Settlers-Slab Camp-Bear Story

-Distilleries-Mills-Schools-Churches-west Carlisle.

PIKE township occupies the southwest corner of the county. It is bounded on the west by Licking county and on the south by Muskingum. Washington township touches it on the east and Perry township on the north. The township was organized in August, 1818, the election for the first officers being held in the house of James Bryan. This and Perry are the only two townships in the county that consist wholly of congress land. It was surveyed in the year 1803, by John Matthews.

The surface is rolling and hilly throughout. It is nearly all tillable, the prevailing soil being a limestone clay. Some sandy grounds are found, however, principally in the western part of the township. The streams are small and unimportant. The largest is Tomica creek, which enters from Licking county, flows southeasterly about a mile and then returns to Licking county. Winding Fork enters the stream, flowing from the northeast. Brushy run rises near the north ern line of the township, close to West Carlisle and flows almost directly south through the entire township. West of this is Five Mile run, so named from its length; it rises near the center of the township and pursues a southwesterly course. Little tributaries to these streams make up the remaining streams of the township. A heavy timber growth was universal, except in one locality.

Along the narrow valley of Brushy run, in sections 12 and 19, was a strip

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 587

of land covered only with saplings when the first was settlers catered the township. The opinion among the early settlers regarding it, was that a violent hurricane had spent its force here and uprooted all the large timber growing upon the tract. The little elevations and depressions which such a catastrophe would produce, were I numerously scattered through this region.

Daniel Ashcraft was the first settler in the township, settling upon the southwest quarter of section 22 in 1803. He was from the vicinity of Cheat river, Pennsylvania, and moved West with his son-in-law, Thomas McKee. The journey was made as far as Zanesville by water. Mr. Ascraft and McKee constructed a large boat about twenty by forty feet in size, freighted it with their families, furniture, teams, iron, etc., and launched it on Cheat river, whence it proceeded safely down the Ohio to Marietta. It was too unwieldy an affair to get up to Zanesville, and Mr. Ashcraft came to that place and engaged three keel-boats to bring up his goods. The teams were brought up by land. From Zanesville he proceeded on the road leading west to the neighborhood of Frazersburg, and leaving his heaviest goods there, packed the most necessary articles on his horses through the wilderness, to his future home. A bark camp was hastily constructed and served as a temporary place of shelter. Mr. Ashcraft was an excellent mechanic, and could turn his hand to almost anything. He had a large family, and his boys, Jonathan, Jacob, Jesse, Elijah and Daniel, were of great service in clearing up the land. He brought over his blacksmith tools as soon as he arrived, and soon had a little, log-cabin built which he occupied several years, then built a larger hewed-log house, a very palace in those days. A whip-saw was brought from Zanesville to prepare the necessary lumber for this building. In connection with his blacksmithing, he carried on a cooper-shop, and soon had a tannery also started on his place. When the Newark road was opened, and the country round about began to be peopled with emigrants, he provided entertainment at his house for those who required it, a meal thus costing the stranger twelve and a half cents, and lodging six and a quarter cents. While the country upon all sides vas still one vast wilderness, this farm had already become greatly improved.

Jonathan Ashcraft, still surviving at this writing, in his ninetieth year, turned the first furrow of ground in the township with his rude plow. Seeds for an apple and peach orchard were planted at once, and in a few years fruit was had n abundance. Mr. Ashcraft served on the frontier for a few months in the war of 1812, in a company commanded by Captain Wilson, of Licking county. He continued to reside in this township, engaged in the quiet pursuits of farm life, till he died at a good old age. Thomas McKee, his son-in-law, settled in the vicinity of Mt. Vernon, but years afterward moved to this county. Very soon after the arrival of Ashcraft, Payne Clark entered the township. He came from Fauquier county, Virginia, and settled upon the southeast quarter of section 12. He was a veritable Nimrod at the chase, and, gun in hand, spent much time in the game-abounding forest. He was also a practical surveyor, and in this capacity was of great service to his neighbors. About 1832 he removed to Greene county, Indiana.

Thomas Hardesty came about 1812, and entered the southwest quarter of section 19. He was from Maryland, and spent his youth upon the sea, where he acquired the hardiness and recklessness of a sailor. In 1811 he emigrated with his brother, Edmund Hardesty, to Washington township. He remained there only a year or two, and came to this township. He remained a resident of the township for a number of years, but never became skilled in the use of his gun. A favorite occupation was the making of maple sugar. He eventually removed to Greene county, Indiana.

It was not until 1814 that settlers began to arrive in any number. In that year Pierce Noland came to the township, and entered the northwest quarter of section 11. He was originally from the Virginia banks of the Potomac, and came to Coshocton county in 1811, living for three years nine miles up the Tuscarawas river from Coshocton, at the mouth of White Eyes creek. In his early days he was a traveling merchant, in Virginia, but since he became a resident of this county he followed farming ex-

588 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

elusively. He died in 1834, at the age of fifty-seven years.

It was about this year that James and John Bryan, two brothers, settled here. s the name indicates they were Irish. John was born in Ireland and James on the briny ocean, as his parents were on their way to the new country. The two boys entered the northwest quarter of section 12. James was a noted character in his day, was perhaps best known as the local poet of this community. He possessed an abundance of native Irish wit and was an inveterate rhymer. His caustic verses were an ever-availing weapon against those who incurred his enmity, and were always highly appreciated by those at whom they were not aimed. He was reared a Catholic, but did not hold firm allegiance to any church. He was as fond of whisky as he was of versifying. He was by trade a molder, and during winter was often employed at Moore's furnace, a few miles east of Newark. He finally removed to Indianola, Iowa, where he died.

David Moore, a cooper by trade, from near Hagerstown, Maryland, and James Thompson, from near Cumberland, Maryland, came out in 1814, and entered the southwest quarter of section 12. Mr. Thompson spent the remainder of his life in the township, but Mr. Moore sold his property and removed to Vinton county.

David Knowles, about 1813, settled in the east ern part of section 19. William Clark, a Virginian, about 1816, entered and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 10. About the same time, Joseph Cheney, from Maryland, settled upon the southeast quarter of section 22. About 1814, Joshua Lemart, from Fauquier county, Virginia., settled upon the northeast quarter of section 12. He had lived for a short time previous in Washington township. He died in Muskingum county. Adam Gault, from Pennsylvania, came in about 1815, settling upon the southeast quarter of section 2. He died in 1846.

Eli Seward moved with his family in the fall of 1815 from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to the Cass section, in the northern part of Muskingum county, remained there a year, and in February, 1817, settled upon a quarter section in the western part of this township. In the spring of 1816 his brother, Ebenezer Seward, James Chapin and John Taylor, emigrated from the same county in Pennsylvania.

George Lynch, a Pennsylvanian, moved about 1816 to the northwest quarter of section 19. He erected a blacksmith shop here and divided his attention between the shop and field. Years after he removed to Hardin county. Spencer Lake emigrated about the same time from Fauquier county, Virginia, and remained a farmer of this township the rest of his life. William Henderson, a blacksmith and afterward a dealer in stock, came about 1816 from Belmont county. About 1817 Samuel Perkins, from Pennsylvania, entered the tract upon which West Carlisle is now situated. Augustine White came in 1818 from Virginia. Alexander Graham, also from Pennsylvania, came to the township in 1819; he died in July, 1844. About this time John Rine, a Marylander, who had served in the war of 1812; moved in.

The tax duplicate far 1821 shows the following additional names as resident property-holders. As land did not become taxable till after it had been entered five years, some, if not all, of these settlers were probably here as early as 1816: George Crawford, the southeast quarter of section 23, and east half of section 21; Francis Crawford, the northeast quarter of section 24; Richard Goodwin, the north part of the southeast quarter of section 5; John McNabb, the northwest quarter of section 2; John Perdew, the northeast quarter of section 1; Kimble Rakestraw, a Virginian, the northwest quarter of section 17; John Robinson, slab a Virginian. the southeast quarter of section 15; Jesse Rine, brother to John Rine, from Frederick county, Maryland, the south part of the southeast quarter of section 5; Asa B. Snyder, the northeast quarter of section 9; William Wright, from Virginia, a local surveyor, and by trade a wheel-wright, the northeast quarter of section 22.

The only vestige of Indian habitation which existed when the early settlers came to the township, was a rickety shanty, which stood near the mouth of Winding Fork, and was known as Slab Camp. It was a three-sided little hut, one end being entirely open, and about ten by twelve feet in size. It was frequently occupied by hun-

PAGE 589 - PICTURE OF THE FARM AND RESIDENCE OF J. C. M'BANE, P. O., COSHOCTON

PAGE 590 - BLANK

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 591

ters, after the Indians had abandoned it, as a sleeping place, and whenever so used, a fire must be built across the open end, to prevent the entrance of wild animals.

Wild game was abundant for a number of years, and many are the bear stories which the few remaining pioneers tell of the times which are now gone forever. There is room for only one. Richard Meek, who settled early on the j northwest quarter of section 22, went visiting one day with his wife, leaving Samuel, scarcely fifteen years old, and his younger sisters at ' home. They amused themselves during their parents' absence by springing saplings in the woods. After a while Sam thought he espied a bear behind a fallen log. He told the little girls to watch the place while he ran to the house for his father's gun. He soon returned with the weapon, which was so heavy he could scarcely carry it, and lying down on the ground, he laid the cumbersome weapon across a log, took deliberate aim, and fired. The ball sped true to the mark, and the bear fell dead. Running up to it, he drew out a butcher knife and stabbed it in old hunter fashion; then went to the stable for horses and sled, and by dint of perseverance managed to get the bear on the sled and home just as his parents returned. It was an unusually large animal, weighing more than 600 pounds.

Several small distilleries were operated in this township in early times to supply the local demand for whisky. James and George Crawford, about 1818, started one and run it for a number of years. Another one was owned by Thomas and John Crawford, of another family. Payne Clark, Samuel Hardesty and Newman Smith were also manufacturers of the article on a small scale. Joshua Lemart began the business at an early day and continued it for many years. He built a little horse-mill for the purpose of grinding his mashes, but it was soon brought into requisition by his neighbors for grinding their corn. Particularly was this so during a dry season, when the mills on the small streams must suspend operations for lack of power, and the settlers were obliged to take their grists up to Owl creek in Knox county, or down to Zanesville, where from the throng of customers, they often had to wait several days before their wants could be attended to. Lemart's horse-mill was then kept going night and day, turning out a course grade of corn-meal which the settlers labored hard to obtain.

John Taylur built a saw-mill on Winding Fork about 1818. In 1823, he sold it to Albert Seward still living in Bethlehem township-who had just attained his majority. In 1830, Mr. Seward disposed of it to James Van Winkle, and, a short time afterward, Ebenezer Seward obtained possession of it. He sold it to Mr. Pease, of Dresden, who proposed removing it further down the stream and adding a grist-mill; but he failed in business before carrying out the project, and the property reverted to Mr. Seward. He resold it to Jesse Ryan, and the mill soon after went down. A saw-mill was built on Tomica creek, by Frederick Zellers, in 1833, and the next year a flour-mill was added. It is still in operation, known as the Gault mill. It has two run of buhrs, a good stone dam, and produces an excellent grade of flour.

Little is known of the early schools of the township. Like in all other pioneer settlements, they were irregularly held, meagerly attended, and very inefficient, as compared with the schools of the present day. A school-cabin was built about 1824 on the hill south of Hiram Noland's house, on the southeast quarter of section 12. William Wright was the first teacher in this building. He was a learned teacher, proficient in Latin, it is said, and a thorough mathematician. He remained in charge of the school for a number of years. Later, a school-house was built just south of West Carlisle, where Mr. Timberlick, afterward cashier of the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon, taught the first elements.

There are four churches. in the township; three, a Methodist, a Presbyterian and a Lutheran, in West Carlisle, and one about two miles' south of this village, near the center of section 12. The latter is a °` People's" church, or more commonly called the "Broomstick church:" It is the property of no denomination, built nearly forty years ago by the people in this neighborhood, regardless of their church affinities, upon

592 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

land donated by Hiram Noland. All denominations are permitted to worship here at any time which does not interfere with previous appointments, and several societies of different sects have used the building as their meeting house. Among them was a congregation of Christians, which at one time possessed considerable strength. Nathaniel Emery, Lewis Cheney and many persons from a distance were members. At first preaching was conducted at Mr. Emery's barn, then transferred to the church. There have been no services now for ten years or more. The Disciples held services here for a while. Samuel Cheney was a leading member. The congregation included a large number living in Muskingum county. Rev. White was their last minister. The Presbyterians and Methodist Episcopals hold occasional services. The Methodist Protestants have regular meetings, conducted at present by Rev. William Sampson. This society was organized about 1845, and now has about fifty members: A union Sunday-school is held here.

Of the three churches in West Carlisle, the Presbyterian is probably the oldest. It was incorporated by the legislature in 1823. The incorporators were James McKee, John Lyons; James Gault, James Patters and William Brown. Rev. James Cunningham; of Utica, Licking county, had been preaching occasionally in the neighborhood for some time and continued to preach for the church until 1834. Rev. Jacob Wolf then nerved the church for about a year, and after he left Mr. Cunningham again supplied the congregation for a year or two. In 1838 and 1839 the church was supplied by Rev. Enoch Bouton and Rev. Nathaniel Conkling. Rev. J. Matthews seems to have been the first pastor, installed November 11, 1840. Until 1846 he gave it half his time and then the whole time until 1853. During his time the church building still in use was erected. In 1853 C. C. Bomberger was ordained and installed pastor. During the war the congregation was greatly distracted on political issues, and finally divided, Mr. Bomberger and a portion of the congregation withdrawing and putting themselves under the Presbytery of Louisville and afterwards under the care of the Presbytery of Central Ohio in connection with the Synod of Kentucky. This congregation found a house of worship in the "People's church" two miles below the village. In the old church after several years of embarrassment, with only occasional supplies, John Foy was ordained and installed in 1870. During his pastorate the church rallied to a considerable extent and the house of worship was repaired and improved at an expense almost equal to its original cost. Mr. Foy removed in 1874 to Martinsburg and the church has since been supplied by Revs. S. Mehaffey, W. D. Wallace, and W. J. Fulton and J. P. Safford. In November, 1880, the two divisions of the church were harmonized and reunited under Mr. Safford's pastorate. At its organization the number of members was twenty-four; in 1860 there were eighty-six; at present it exceeds one hundred. The first elders were Thomas McKee, James Crawford and Adam Gault. Subsequently the following have served :A. H. Lyons, Christopher Crothers, John Lyons, James McKee, Robert Crouch, William Harvey, D. D. Johnson, Lewis Bonnett, Thomas McKee, John McKee, John Graham and George McKee. The last three constitute the session at this time.

The Methodist Episcopal congregation at West Carlisle erected its first house of worship in 1832 or 1833. It was a frame building, and occupied the site of the present church, which was built about 1859. The date of the church organization is unknown. It was some time before the erection of the first church. Among the earlier members were William Moffat, John Fulks, James Fulks and William Henderson. Rev. Thomas Dunn was an early minister. The membership is now about sixty. Rev. A. A. McCullough is the pastor. A Sunday-school has been connected with the church for a great number of years, and is in excellent working condition. The school is held through the whole year.

The Evangelical Lutheran church was organized about 1835. The first minister was JacobSeidle. Rev. S. Kammerer had previously held services in the neighborhood. The leading early members were Henry Billman, Henry Divan, George Sossaman, Henry Keifer and Solomon

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 593

Exline. The present frame church was built a few years ago, at a cost of about $1,200. The former building was smaller, and built soon after the church was organized. The church had a large following at first, but when the Winding Fork church was organized many members withdrew to unite with it, and the church was left comparatively weak. By removals the membership has become still smaller, and is now quite limited. Rev. John Booker is the pastor.

West Carlisle, the only village in the township,. lies a half mile from the northern line, near the center of section 2. It is one of the oldest villages in the county, having been laid out in August, 1817. The proprietors were John Perking and John McNabb. Perkins owned the southwest quarter of section 2, and McNabb the northwest quarter of the same section. The town was laid out on the lice between the two quarter sections. The village was probably named by Perkins, who is said to have been from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in honor of his old home. The original plat included thirty-four lots, but during the same year, 1817, each of the proprietors made a small addition to the town. Further additions were made in 1831, by William Henderson, William Brown and Harmon Anderson.

The leading character in the early history of West Carlisle was William Brown. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and spent his youth in the service of merchant in St. Clairsville. He came to West Carlisle about 1822, with a small stock of goods, and soon after formed a partnership with a gentleman in Zanesville, and greatly increased his stock. He remained a resident of the village until 1840, and during this time was closely identified with its best interests. His parents were from Germany, spelling the name Braun. His wife was Scotch-Irish. By the combination of the virtues of the two races, the Browns won for themselves great consideration in their neighborhood, and, though starting in their wedded life with very little, amassed quite a respectable fortune. Mr. Brown was for many years a justice of the peace and postmaster, under Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson and Van Buren, although he was a very decided Adams and Clay man. He was an excellent horseman, and skilled in the use of the rifle, and these things helped him greatly in the state of society found in his day in the region of West Carlisle. In public movements and proper sports he was never lacking, and was often recognized as a leader, and made the object of a good deal of `backwoods homage,' and yet with all his activity in business and interest in the social life of the people, Mr. Brown is represented as having been a very earnest and faithful man in his religious duties. Family worship was on no excuse intermitted ; the Sabbath was sacredly regarded ; and when, as before and after a communion in the church, there was preaching, the store was shut, although he loved business, and avowed his intention to give himself steadily to it, and to make money for his family. His house was the minister's hold, and he was one of the most active members of the Presbyterian church from its organization, contributing largely of his means to it. In 1840, he removed to Logansport, Indiana, and there died, March 4,1859. One of the sons, William L. Brown, acting brigadier general of the Indiana infantry, was killed at the second battle of Bull Run. Three sons, J. C., Hugh A., and Frederick T., became Presbyterian ministers. Mr. Brown's was the first store. William Henderson was the first blacksmith. In 1833, there were two churches, three stores, one tavern, one physician, one tannery, two blacksmith shops. two cabinet-makers, two hatters, one wagon, maker, one carpenter, two shoemaker and two tailor shops. The population then was 107. In 1850, it was 154.

A directory of the village, for 1881, would reveal the following : Dry goods, L. F. Cheney and J. W. Almack; grocery, L. P. White; wagon shop, M. Baird & Son; saddlery, A. T. Pine; two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one cabinet shop; carriage manufacturer, G. W. Cooper. This establishment gives employment to seven or eight workmen, and annually builds a large number of carriages and spring wagons. Drs. William Smith and James Edward are the resident physicians.

A Baptist church was built in the village about 1845. William and John Dunlap, William Wright and Robert Cochran were leading members. Rev. Waldron was the first minister.

594 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

The society grew rapidly for a few years and as rapidly declined. About 1850, the building was sold to William McFarland, who, With others converted it into an academy, under the management, at first, of Mr. Gilbert. It Was afterward purchased ' by the school board and is still used as a village school-house. It contains two rooms, both of Which are occupied.

West Carlisle, though small, is a stirring village. It is a live, business place and a trading center for many miles around.

CHAPTER LXVI.

TIVERTON TOWNSHIP.

Name-Location-streams-Physical Features-Aboriginal

Remains-Johnny Appleseed-Early Settlers-Population-

First school-Churches-Tiverton Center-Rochester.

TIVERTON township Was so-called from a township in Newport county, Rhode Island, whence a number of early settlers had emigrated. It Was organized December 8, 1824, and then named Union. Previous to this time it had formed a part of Richland township, which is still the name of the adjoining township in Holmes county. The name Union did not prove Satisfactory to the citizens of the township, for in March, 1825, it was changed by the county commissioners to Tiverton.

Geographically, it lies in the northwest corner of the county, and iS bounded on the north by Holmes county, on the east by Monroe township, on the south by New Castle township and on the west by Union township, Knox county.

The Mohican river traverses the southwestern portion of the township, entering from Knox county and crossing into New Castle township. Its course is through a deep and narrow ravine, Which affords but little bottom lands. The small run which enters the river in lot 16 of the mill tart' section has been designated Spoon river The small stream, a little above this, entering the river on lot 28, is called Folly run. Charles Ryan, Who in early times lived ,near its mouth once prepared the timber for a cabin near its banks, but for some inexplicable cause did not erect it. The hewed toga decayed on the site of the intended cabin, and the fact gave rise to this name. Wolf creek, in the northeast part of the township, flows northeasterly and enters Killbuck creek in Holmes county. In the southern part of the township is Dutch run, named from the preponderating German element in this vicinity. The tallest and most precipitous hills skirt the channel of the Mohican. The land is also rough and hilly in the northern and southern parts, but in the central and eastern portions, and likewise to some extent in the north, the ridge lands become rolling, and in places almost level. Sandstone is the prevailing surface rock, and the soil is principally clayey. The hills and valleys along the Mohican River were covered sixty years ago With a heavy growth of timber, comprising black oak, white oak, chestnut, beach, Walnut, ash, elm, hickory, and indeed, almost Without exception all kinds of forest growth indigenous to this climate. Large quantities of White pine timber Were rafted, in early days, down the Mohican from the steep bluffs along the river. The greater portion of the township was Wooded, but extensive regions in the eastern and northern parts Were covered When the first settlers arrived, With an underbrush of oak, so slight that a wagon could easily override it. This has noW grown to thrifty young oaks, twelve or fifteen inches in diameter.

The third section, or southwest quarter of the township, is a military section, surveyed into forty 100-acre lots by Alexander Holmes, in 1808. The remainder of the township is congress land, surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr.

Traces of the aborigines are still discernible in one or two localities. On Mr. S. H. Draper's farm remains of a stone wall or embankment may be noticed extending across the top of the ridge which fronts on the Mohican valley. It is probably eight rods in length and at one time Was three or more feet in height.

A circular earthen fortification, enclosing about three acres, stood on the northwest quarter of section 8, the old Borden place. On lot fifteen of the military section, near the Walhonding canal, s was evidently a resort of the prehistoric race. Large quantities of flints, of all sizes and forms, is stone axes, pestles, etc., have been found here. Near by was a circular depression in the ground,

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about two rods in diameter, which was filled with fragmentary bones of human skeletons, mingled with coals and ashes, the whole being covered with about two feet of earth. The skeletons did not seem to be arranged in order, but, from appearances, the bodies had been tumbled into the excavation without any regard to order.

One of the nurseries of the famed Johnny Appleseed was located in Tiverton township. It stood near the north line of lot 36, section 3, a short distance from the Mohican river. Tradition with that it was about one acre in extent, and that in this space Johnny had planted three bushels of apple seeds. While tending this young nursery, he lodged at the house of John Butler, about a mile from the nursery and in Knox county. This was before 1807. The earliest orchards in this vicinity were from this nursery. Isaac Draper had one on the northwest quarter of section 15, and many pioneers from Knox county also had resource here in providing themselves with early fruit trees. A. single tree, the sole survivor of a once large orchard from this nursery, may still be seen on the farm of K. B., Cummings, lot 15, section 3. It measures about twelve feet in circumference and is much broken down. It blossoms every spring, but has not borne fruit for many years.

Several settlers had entered this township prior to the war of 1812, but it was not till about 1816 that a steady tide of emigration set in, which continued until all available land had been occupied. The earliest settlers were Virginians and New Englanders, the latter coming chiefly from the vicinity of Fall river, near the line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, mostly from the Rhode Island side.

Isaac Draper was the first settler in the township, and for several years the only one. He was a Virginian, and in 1806 settled upon the northwest quarter of section 15, and soon after entered it. Mr. Draper remained a life-long resident of this place. He died and was buried in the town ship.

The next settler, of whom anything is known was William Humphrey, who came to this township about 1812, from the vicinity of Fall river Massachusetts. He was a brother to Squire Humphrey, a prominent pioneer of New Castle township, and owned lots 19, 20 and 29, of section 3. He brought his family and goods through the wilderness on a litter, made by strapping poles to two horses, placed one in front of the other. The cabin which he hastily put together for the shelter of his family, was without door, floor or chimney, and often at night wild-cats and coos would clamber over the roof and make night hideous with their equaling and screeching.

Mr. Humphrey emigrated to his western home in time to be here drafted for service in the frontier army. His cabin was some distance from other settlements, and it is said that while out in the woods one day, he was accosted by an officer, a stranger to him, come to summon the drafted men to service, who inquired of him the course to William Humphrey's cabin. Mr. Humphrey informed him and, suspecting his errand, passed further into the forest in the opposite direction. He saw no more of the officer and was not disturb any further. This is the nearest approach to early military service by the pioneers of this township, of which any knowledge is had. Mr. Humphrey perused a farmer's life and died and was buried upon the home place.

William Durban, a Marylander, was here in 1812. He was a farmer, owned lots 15 and 16, of section 3, and died in Rochester.

Thomas Bordon settled on seventy acres in the northwest quarter of section 8, which he had purchased from Isaac Draper, soon after the close of the war of 1812. He was from Rhode Island, and had led a life on the ocean wave. Farming was his occupation here until his death. For a time, however, he kept a tavern on his home place.

Stephen and Isaac Thatcher, two brothers, came about the same time and from the same place that Bordon did. Stephen had been the captain of a sailing craft, and entered the north west quarter of section 3. Isaac was a house joiner by trade, and followed this occupation in connection with farming. He owned lot 39, of section 3. Both died and were buried in the township.

Isaac Hart, another Rhode Islander, moved about 1818 to the northeast quarter of section 7. His occupation had been house joining, and the

596 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

little leisure he could spare from clearing his land and raising crops was devoted to his trade. Mr. Hart at an early day made an attempt in the production of silk. A house for the silkworms was built, and a long row of mulberry trees planted ; but the project failed. The house is still standing. The climate proved injurious to the health of his wife, and at her request he returned to Rhode Island. The came of Tiverton for this township is said to have been suggested and urged by Mr. Hart until it was adopted. '

John Hyatt, in 1817, emigrated from the south branch of the Potomac, Virginia, to the northwest quarter of section 7. He was a farmer, and raised a large family of children. The most of these have removed to other places. One of his sons, Matthew Hyatt, is at this writing still living in this township, and is one of its oldest residents.

John Holt, from Virginia, about 1817, came to the northwest quarter of section 13.

John Conner, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, moved from Virginia to the northeast quarter of section 6, in 1818, where he followed farming up to the time of his death. His brother, James Conner, another early settler, moved to the west half of the northeast quarter of section 13. He afterward emigrated to Iowa, and there died.

Abram Simmons and his son-in-law, Lemuel Church, who was a shoemaker, removed about 1818, from Rhode Island to this township. Neither acquired much property, but both continued to live here the remainder of their lives.

Charles Ryan was an early settler, who located lot 28 of the third section. He was a singular character, fond of hunting, careless about his affairs, and consequently always indebted to his neighbors. He rarely possessed much ready money, and during harvest and other busy seasons his services were in much demand by his creditors. It was not unusual for him to premise to labor for five or six men on a day, and when the time arrived to spend it in hunting and disappoint them all. When questioned about this reprehensible conduct, his reply was that he did not wish to see his neighbors leave his presence feeling down-hearted, and that in consequence he felt constrained to promise them his assistance. Mr. Ryan finally moved West.

The above mentioned settlers include all the resident tax-payers of Tiverton township for 1822, as indicated by the tax duplicate for that year. Four years later, the following were additional tax-paying residents of the township, and as five years must intervene between the time land is entered and the time it becomes taxable, it is probable that the greater number of these had located in the township as early as 1820.

Levi Beaty emigrated from Virginia to this county, and at first leased a tract of land from Mrs. Hull, of New Castle township. He soon after entered and removed to the east half of the southeast quarter of section 13.

Daniel Brenaman, in 1826, owned lot 28, section 3, the Ryan lot. George Baker, a Pennsylvanian, had purchased it from Mr. Ryan, and he and his son Peter successively lived here a few years, then removed to Knox county. Mr. Brenaman purchased it from Baker, but did not occupy the place for many years. He sold it and also removed to Knox county.

George Cummins, of Fauquier county, Virginia, emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1815, and soon thereafter to Knox county. Some time later he came to this township, where he continued to live up to the time of his death. Of his three sons, Eli and Ludwell went west and Kidder B., now in his seventy-ninth year, still has possession of the old home place, lot 15 and a fraction of 16, section 3.

Henry Miller was left an orphan when a small child, and was reared to manhood in the State of Maryland. While yet a young man he came west, and worked from place to place until he accumulated means sufficient to enter the west half of the southeast quarter of section 13. He married, and spent the remainder of his life on this place.

George Metcalf, who had married a daughter e of John Hyatt, lived with his father-in-law a while, then removed to Sullivan county, Indiana.

John Winslow, in the spring of 1820, came to this township from near Fall River, Bristol county, Massachusetts. For a few years he engaged in "cropping" for Stephen Thatcher, then entered the west half of the southeast quarter of

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 597

section 3. He continued farming, and died upon this place in the autumn of 1880, in the eighty-first year of his age.

Joseph Walker entered the southeast quarter of section 7. He was from Pennsylvania, a cooper by trade and pursued farming and coopering together. He remained a life-long citizen of the township.

Abraham Workman, from Maryland, settled in section 6 and continued there, engaged in farming, until his death.

George Titus at a very early day opened a blacksmith shop on the Cummings place. He remained only a few years and owned no real estate here.

It is notable that almost all the pioneer names of this township are still represented here. There has been no noticeable change in nationality since the first settlement, except that the southeastern portion of the township has been settled almost exclusively by Germans in small farms of from forty to eighty acres each. Many of them were laborers on the Walhonding canal and from their earnings saved sufficient to enter a small homestead.

The population of Tiverton township in 1830 was 237 ; in 1840, 665 ; in 1850, 842 ; in 1860, 580; in 1810, 804; and in 1830 it reached 940.

The first school in the township was taught about 1816 by Mrs. Stephen Thatcher in a school cabin which had been built on Mr. Thatcher's place, lot 39. The school was small and not kept up very long. A few years later another was started on Joseph Walker's farm, southeast quarter of section 7. John Johnson, a young man from the Clear Fork, taught the school. Orin Lane, from Knox county, and Alexander Campbell succeeded him. The latter was an Irishman, proficient in the languages, and a strict disciplinarian. He received as wages twelve dollars per month. A log cabin was built in section 7 by the settlers in the vicinity, which for many years served the double purpose of school-house and church. "Pap" William Purdy, who was a Baptist, pr