Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 64

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 64

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Otsego is on the site of an old Indian town, selling horses.

The Methodist Episcopal church is the first or- and is a place of considerable trade. The land was originally entered by James Sprague in 1811, ganization in Monroe township. It was founded and in 1838 it was bought by Moses Abbott and in 1816 by William Knox and Jacob Young, who Francis Wires, who laid ont the town, assisted by instituted the first class, consisting of the follow- James Boyle, county surveyor. The village has ing persons: Charles Marquand; Samuel Sprague; never been incorporated. The first hotel was kept George Bainter, his wife, Lydia, and their son, by David Richardson, who, in 1837, built the house John; Miss Jack; Ashfield Watrons and his wife, afterward occupied by Joseph C. Miller, and Elizabeth. The first preaching was at the house which was destroyed by fire in 1870. Alonzo of George Bainter, and Charles Marquand was the and Ralph De Lamoter built and kept the first first class-leader. In 1828 this organization was store in Otsego in 1837. The next stores were absorbed by the Methodist Protestant church. those of Thomas Wilson and Thomas McCall. Revs. Myers and Gibbons, in 1828, organized a The corner store house, afterward occupied by the class composed of the following members: Phineas

lamater named the town after Otsego, N. Y.

Mr. A. V. P. Hager was postmaster and also kept

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Palmer, class-leader, and his wife, Margaret; Da-

Union Chapel Methodist Protestant church was vid Richardson and his wife, Mary; James Hol- organized in 1860, at a private house, by the Rev. comb and his wife, Electa; James Sprague and his H. T. Lawson; class-leader was Robert Donald- wife, Susannah; Samuel Sprague; Elijah Sprague son.

The following were the original members of and his wife, Elizabeth. This is now the Pleasant the class: G. W. Vensel and wife Sarah Ann, Samuel Valley Methodist Episcopal church.

Echelberry and his wife Charity, Hannah Elsen,

Rev. J. P. Durbin, of the Zanesville circuit, Alice Elsen, Nancy Donaldson, Frances Holcomb, formed a class as follows: William Clark, his wife, Susan Holcomb, Elijah Sprague, Elizabeth Nancy, and their family; Hugh Ballentine, his Sprague. wife, Mary, and their family; Charles Wilcox, his

The first carpenter was John Thompson. Par- wife, Nancy, and their family. This was in the ker Shepardson was the first blacksmith. His year 1822. Meetings were held at the house of shop was on White Eyes creek. In 1835 Thomas Hugh Ballentine, where the class was originally McCall introduced the first threshing machine; organized, until 1848. This year a frame church it was a tread power. In 1835 John S. Abbott was built, but was destroyed by fire in 1854 and brought the first mowing machine into the town- rebuilt, the same size, in 1855. This church be- ship. In October, 1820, Samuel Sprague and came the Maysville Methodist Episcopal church.

Mary Snoat were married, and it was the first mar- Otsego Baptist church was organized by mem- riage in Monroe township. On July 29, 1814, bers of the Salem Township Baptist church, for Levina Sprague was born. She was the first the purpose of having religious services nearer at white child born in the township, and the daugh- home. It was constituted July 20, 1844, by Elder ter of James and Susannah Sprague. In 1813 William Sedwick, who officiated as pastor until Martin Richardson built on section 19 the first May 19, 1849, when he resigned. The member- frame house. In 1812 the first wagon was brought ship was as follows: C. G. Sedwick, H. C. Sedwick, into the township. In 1819 David Richardson Asheba Lane, Ruth Nash, William Emler, Mary built the first brick house in the township. In Emler, Drucilla Richardson, Jared Cone Sr., Eliza 1814 Mary Stoner, who came from Pennsylvania Cone, Nelson F. Richardson, Elizabeth Emler, with her husband, taught the first school in the Sarah Bradford, Philip Darner, Rebecca Darner, township in her own house, which was on section Harriet E. Frazier, Maria Wortman, Ellen Trim- 13. In 1816 Mary Richardson, wife of David ble, Charles Foster, Margaret Foster, Elizabeth Richardson, taught the second school in the town- Buker, James Trimble, Mary Trimble, Robert ship at her residence one-half mile south of Trimble, William Hague, Louis Lane, Gilbert Otsego. Ross, Casper Bradford, Barton Cone, Charles

Barton Cone (deceased) was born in Monroe Frazier, Rebecca Trimble, Margaret Ross, Abra- township, son of Jared Cone, the pioneer, was a ham Emler, Daniel Milton, Susan Milton, George substantial farmer of Monroe township, and a Milton, Mary J. Milton, David McVickar, Eliza- soldier in the 100 days' service. He was deacon beth Mc Vickar, Sarah Sprague, James Reed, Ma- of the Baptist church many years, and justice of tilda A. Reed.

the peace, and was familiarly known as Squire

The Otsego Presbyterian church was organized Cone. He accumulated a handsome property, and in 1848, the original founders being Rev. William was a man of untarnished integrity. Col. Joseph Wilson and Rev. William Wallace-the first name Walker (deceased) was a commissioned officer in given was Mount Pleasant Presbyterian church, the old militia. On August 12, 1825, he settled in which was afterward changed to Otsego Presbyte- Monroe township from Pennsylvania. He was rian church, the new and old divisions of the church many years engaged in the tanning business at uniting. The original members were: Arthur Ham- Otsego. Col. Walker was commissioned by Gov. ilton and his wife Catherine, Samuel Hamilton and Joseph Vance, as adjutant of the Fifth regiment, his wife, Malcolm McNeil and his wife Isabel, John Second brigade, Fifteenth division of the militia of McNeil and his wife Margery, Malcolm McNeil 2d Ohio. His sword and commission have both been and his wife Eliza, Mary McNeil, Margaret Mc- preserved. He took a great pride in the respect- Neil, James McNeil and his sisters Margaret, able and intelligent body of descendants who Sarah, Margery and Mary. In 1849 a frame claimed him as their ancestor. Robert Boyce, church was completed, on land owned by Malcolm (deceased), for years a prosperous merchant of McNeil, and afterward donated to this church by Adamsville, died in Otsego in 1881. He was a his heirs. The first pastor was Rev. William Wal- native of Ireland, and came to America in 1828, lace, who died in 1852. The first elders were and in 1836 settled in Madison township. He was Arthur Hamilton, John McNeil and Malcolm Mc- the father of Richard Boyce, a prominent business Neil. The present deacons are Malcolm McNeil man of Otsego. 2d, and Samuel Hamilton.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Chapter XLI.

NEWTON TOWNSHIP.

N EWTON township lies in the southwest- Soon after he came, Andrew Crooks donated ern corner of the county, its western and the use of sufficient land for a schoolhouse in part of its southern boundary being the county which a school was opened by a well-educated line. It is bounded north by Hopewell and Scotchman named William McElree. This was Springfield, east by Springfield and Brush Creek doubtless the first school in the township. On and partially on the south by Clay. Jonathan's the Springer place a schoolhouse was built very creek, the principal stream, flows in an ir- early in the present century, which has been re- regular course through the central portion ferred to as the "Springer schoolhouse " and " the of the township, its two forks and their tribu- schoolhouse up Buckeye." The first teacher taries-Buckeye fork, Kent's run, Thompson's run, there was Timothy Wheeler, whose successor was One Mile run, Two Mile run, Three Mile run and Thomas H. Dalson, Not long afterward a school other streams-rendering it one of the best watered was established on the Abbott place. In the old townships in the county. The excellence of the log schoolhouse on the Rankin place Daniel Poe clay of this township for the purposes of the pot- taught about 1810, and ten years later James D. ter has rendered the making of pottery ware a Luke and Mary Walpole and Noah Tanner were leading industry here. This part of the county among the pupils there. About this time, or a was formerly a favorite resort of the Shawnee In- little earlier, perhaps, the Uniontown school was dians and game and fish were abundant. The opened in Fultenham. The primitive schoolhouse first land within the present borders of this town- on Crooks' land gave place later to a more modern ship that was entered for settlement was the west structure known as the Lamb schoolhouse which half of section 23, township 15, range 14, by was built not far from the old site, and that in Jacob Smith in 1797. Smith came from Virginia turn to another on the old Athens road, a few and settled on this land about 1802. His home- miles from Roseville, which was known as the stead was the one known as the John Smith place, Walpole schoolhouse. Another school on the his son John having lived on it after the death of Maysville pike, a mile west of Newtonville, was the pioneer. It appears that Smith was not the taught by George Spencer, among whose pupils first actual settler, however, for Andrew Crooks were Mrs. Elijah Rankin, Jonathan Hatcher and and his wife, also from Virginia, located about Jonas Burton. The early schools were all sub- 1800 on a part of section 6, near where Newton- scription schools. The first common school was ville now is, where his son, George Crooks, after- opened in Uniontown just prior to 1850 and was ward lived. About the same time, John Axline, under the supervision of Rev. William Ferguson, from Bucks county, Penn., settled on the south- who was president of the school board.

east quarter of section 34. Dr. Kent located near Newton township was organized early in 1802. where Newtonville now is, about 1802 and seems The first township trustees were John Beckwith, to have remained only long enough to give liis Andrew Crooks and Benjamin Redman. The first name to Kent's run. About 1805 Benjamin Croy, clerk was Isaac Carter. The first justices of the Jacob Baker, Peter Fauley and Daniel Horn peace were Alexander Nolan and Jacob Crooks. located iu this township. Chauncey Ford located The first constables were William McElree and near where Roseville now is some time in 1804. William Lawrence, though the latter is said to Lewis Nye located and made improvements on have been acting constable only. Early in the section 9 about the same time. David Olive came history of the township Isaac Carter was a justice with him, but died from a rattlesnake bite during of the peace, and in 1823 William Anderson was the year 1804. Together these two men bargaiued first elected, who held the office for about two for a half section of land that had previously been decades. Early elections were held at the house entered by one Jennings. of Squire Nolan, who lived southeast of the pres-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

ent site of Newtonville, and at William Fellows', cloth would be returned when dressed, he having west of the same point.

a varied stock of dye stuffs, and workmen who so Andrew Crooks, the pioneer, was a man of en- well understood the business as to be able to form terprise. There was no road between his place any color desired. He stated, also, that he would and Powell's mill, and he cut one and that turned receive wheat, rye, corn, oats, flaxseed, beans, etc., the tide of travel in his direction to some extent. in payment. Jacob Ronie established the first His next venture was the opening of his house as pottery some time prior to 1815. The next was an inn, about 1804. An idea of the thinness of established by A. Ensminger some time subsequent the population at that time may be gained from to 1825. Joseph Rambo established his pottery the fact that though a "raising " was an important in 1863, and Harrison Suttle began in the same event, only the following named persons were line of manufacture at Newtonville about eleven present at the raising of Crook's house: Joseph years later. Jacob Funk set up his forge where Carpenter, David Olive, Henry Crooks, Solomon Uniontown now is, about 1812. That he was an Hodge, Isaac Martin, John Mathias, Mary Crooks artist as well as a fine mechanic appears from the and Peggy Carpenter. Crooks died about 1850, fact that he not only made very presentable swords aged over seventy years, and at that time had for use during the war of 1812-14, but dies from kept the house for more than forty-five years. The which were printed some of the " script" in circu- first hewed-log house in this section was built by lation in those days. About the same time Will- Lewis Nye, where Newtonville now is, about 1809 iam Bush began blacksmithing near Funk. or 1810. Moses Plummer built the first saw and Thomas Brown opened his shop a little before gristmill in the township, near the locality of 1840. Another old disciple of Vulcan who was

where Wills Bros.' large mill was later built, long on Jonathan's creek, a mile east of where Union- Keyes.

town now is. James Jeffries had a mill in the

popular in the township was Gabnet

Newtonville (White Cottage postoffice and sta-

township about 1807, and another was built a year tion) is a town on the line of the Columbus, Shaw- later by Caleb and Isaac Jones. Crook's mill was nee & Hocking railroad, eight miles from Zanes- built about 1812. On the site of the old Jeffries ville. It has telephone connection with Newark, mill a mill was built six years later by John Har- Columbus, Lancaster and Zanesville. This is the rington for Jacob Smith. A few years afterward center of a good local trade. Darlington, or New- John Smith was the lessee of this mill, which was ton postoffice, is located at the junction of the finally destroyed by fire. About 1838 or 1840 Columbus, Shawnee & Hocking and the Cincinnati the Joneses-Isaac, Caleb and Moses, erected a mill & Muskingum Valley railroads. It is a small 'on the creek. Benjamin Redman started the first hamlet, having little trade. The most important tannery, a little west of the bridge spanning Jon- trade center and shipping point in the township is athan's creek. John Hendricks, father of the Uniontown (Fultonham station and postoffice), an late Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, early incorporated village of about 400 inhabitants, in had a tannery near the site of Uniontown, on the western part, ten miles southwest of Zanes- the same stream. In an advertisement which ap- ville, on the line of the Columbus, Shawnee & peared in the issue of the Zanesville "Express " Hocking railroad. A short distance below the for September 23, 1818, S. H. Raymenton in- station is McCrea Park, a pleasure resort fitted up formed the public that the clothier's works on by the railroad company. Uniontown has tele- Jonathan's creek, about four miles from Zanesville, phone connection with Zanesville, Columbus, Lan- formerly owned by John Harrington, and at that caster, Newark and other points. It is the seat of time owned by John Slack, were in operation and Fultonham Academy, and here are located Mus- that he would receive cloth at the houses of An- kingum Lodge No. 368, F. & A. M. ; Ham Gardner drew Crooks, David Tipton, Levi Chapman, and Post No. 545, G. A. R .; and Newton Lodge No. at his own house, in Putnam, to which places the 278, I. O. O. F.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Chapter XIII.

FALLS TOWNSHIP.

F ALLS township is bounded north by Mus- trading post - was established at Zanestown and kingum, east by Washington and Zanes- regular commerce was begun between the whites ville, south by Zanesville and Springfield, and and Indians. The title of pioneer settler is west by Hopewell, and its lines are thus described: awarded by common consent to Edward Tanner, "Beginning on the west side of the Licking river, who located near the south bank of the Licking, at the corporation line of the city of Zanes- about seven miles above its mouth. Tanner, who ville, on what is the 'Military' or 'Base' line; was born in Virginia on the south branch of the thence west along said line one and a half miles Potomac, had at the age of sixteen been captured to the southeast corner of Hopewell township; by the Indians who kept him a prisoner at upper thence north along the line of said township to Sandusky, Ohio, for three years and a half, finally the southeasterly corner of Licking and southwest- releasing him and permitting him to return to his erly corner of Muskingum townships; thence east former home. After his marriage he came to this along the south line of Muskingum township to locality above referred to and there built a cabin the Muskingum river; thence in a southerly di- and lived at peace with his aboriginal neighbors, rection along and down said river to the corpora- with whom he is said to have maintained friendly tion line of the city of Zanesville; thence west and relations by recourse to a system of fair dealing south around the said corporation of Zanesville to that should have commended itself to others sim- the place of beginning." ilarly situated who came to grief because they did

The surface of this township is undulating and not recognize its efficacy. There his son, Samuel not unpicturesque. The slopes near the river are Tanner, was born in 1792, and at a later date Capt. called the first and second bottoms. The soil is William C. Tanner. Soon after the year 1800 Tan- a sandy loam, quite productive, in the bottoms; on ner built the first hewed-log house in the county the uplands a clay subsoil, exceedingly rich. The and moved into it from his primitive cabin. This forests which once covered this section were com- pioneer died in 1831. About a year after him posed of chestnut, elm, ash, hickory, walnut, came Baltzer Fletcher, also a Virginian, who lo- beech, maple and the different varieties of oak. cated east of Tanner's, and John Kinkead, from Sandstone and limestone have been found here New Jersey, came in 1795. About two years later and iron also exists, and some parts yield a good John Ratliff and Elias Hughes located not far from the mouth of the Licking. They came from quality of coal. Potter's clay is found also.

The Licking river flows through the southwest- Virginia and are said to have been typical front- ern portion of Falls township, and to it Bartlett's, ier scouts. They were not permanent settlers Devere's and Timber runs are tributary. There here, but removed about twenty miles up the are in the township quite a number of constantly river within a year of their coming. About 1798 flowing springs. About two-thirds of the town- one Priest located in this township, though the ship lies northeast of the river and the balance exact place of his settlement is unknown. The southwest.

following reference-to him has been found: " Mr.

Falls township was organized March 9, 1808 Priest, wife and six children, the youngest in arms, September 3, 1817, a portion of West Zanesville removed from Culpeper county, Va., 400 miles was attached. In October, 1870, West Zanes- away, the parents walking, the mother carrying ville was set off and constituted a part of the city her babe, while the other children and their house- of Zanesville. This township originally included hold goods and furniture were transported on pack Muskingum.

horses. Mrs. Priest lived to be one hundred. and The settlement of Falls township dates from two years old." About 1800 Abel Lewis came 1790. It was not until four years later that the from Pennsylvania, making the journey on foot,

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

and it is related of him that at night he secured annexed to the city of Zanesville, and it has since his arm to a high limb in a tree with his pocket- formed a part of that municipality. A postoffice handkerchief and slept in the tree top secure from was established there in 1811, with John S. Parke danger from wild beasts. He was a surveyor and as postmaster. A distillery was established near from 1803 to 1811 was clerk of the court. In here about eighty years ago, by James Thorp, and 1812 he took up his residence on the farm, since another was put in operation later on the Snider known as that of his son, George J. Lewis. In farm by James Fulton, which afterward passed to 1804 John Channel located temporarily near the the possession and management of Joseph Belknap. mouth of the Licking, subsequently removing to a

The mail route from Zanesville to Newark was point further up the river. He was well known as opened through this township in 1806, and the a hunter. William Kamp was an early settler and mails were for a time carried on horseback. Neile, in 1807 Frederick Geyer was living on the Lewis Moore & Co. put on a line of stages in 1825, and Lane farm. Moses Dillon, the elder, from Penn- perhaps a little later John S. Dugan operated an- sylvania, visited this part of the country about other line between the same terminal points by way 1804. He came as the traveling companion of a of Irville and Nashport. The construction of the Quaker preacher, whose objective point was the branch of the Baltimore & Ohio system, extending camping ground of the Wyandot Indians at the from Columbus to Wheeling, and formerly known head waters of the Coshocton branch of the Mus- as the Central Ohio railroad, marked the advent of kingum, and who had then attained the age of this modern improvement in this township. Dil- three-score and ten. The great water power af- lon's Falls is a station on this line. The National forded by the falls of the Licking and his pike or National road, extending from Washington, discovery of iron ore in the vicinity determined D. C., to St. Louis, Mo., was constructed in 1830, him to locate here, and he soon purchased about and the part of it traversing this township has 3,000 acres of land, which included the falls, and since afforded better facilities for road traffic than in 1805 settled there permanently, establishing any other highway within or partially within its what was doubtless the first furnace and foundry borders.

west of the Alleghanies and subsequently en-

A Mr. Black is said to have been the pioneer gaged in other enterprises which are mentioned pedagogue, and is accredited with having taught elsewhere. Charles and John Roberts, who came a school near the boundary line of Falls and Hope- into this township prior to 1810, were the first well townships as early as 1801. The first school- surveyors, if tradition is to be relied on. One house was erected on the William Search farm, in Woodword, who assisted Edward Tanner in the the southwest corner of the township, about 1804. erection of his hewed log house, is thought to Another early teacher was Mr. Ranney, who taught have been the first carpenter.

on the Camp farm, north of the Licking. Moses

The old village of Dillon's Falls has been re- Dillon and his sons opened the first store at Dil- ferred to. Its beginning was the location there of lon's Falls about 1806, bringing their miscellaneous Moses Dillon, who, about 1805, put in operation a merchandise in by packhorse for some years. foundry and furnace and began the manufacture of Rev. James B. Findley, of the Methodist per- hollow ware. After he opened his store this be- suasion, preached about 1810 in the tavern house came an important trading point, and though no of Henry Dick, at Dillon's Falls, and organized a town was ever regularly laid out, a goodly number class consisting of John Hooper, Jacob Hooper, of families settled round about on Mr. Dillon's Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, J. Denlenhiffer and a col- land. Later enterprises of Mr. Dillon and his ored man named Sam Gassaway. Dick's tavern sons have received attention elsewhere. John Mc- is thought not to have been opened until 1810. Intire laid out the village of West Zanesville in John Corbis, of West Zanesville, opened a public 1809, platting squares which he subdivided into house in a log building with a porch, a year earlier. lots. The plat was never recorded, however, John Lee opened a tavern at Dillon's Falls about These lots extended from the north end of the 1816. The first gristmill in the township was put bridge north along River street, and were num- in operation at the falls early in the present cent- bered one to twenty, inclusive. That part of New- ury by George Jackson. It was located just be- town or the Western Addition, lying west of Blue low Dillon's furnace and was resorted to by settlers avenue, was owned by John Lee. This addition for fifty miles round about, who were at times was laid out in 1852. Terrace No. 1 and terrace obliged to wait several days for their grists to be No. 2. both on the John McIntire land, were ground. William English put a tannery in opera- laid out in 1855 and 1863, respectively. The vil- tion near by about the same time. A salt well lage of West Zanesville was incorporated in 1869. was owned and operated on the James Miller farm, Henry Peters was its first mayor and Imri Rich- in the northeast part of the township, by Gen. ards its first recorder. In 1870 this village was Samuel Herrick, some time before 1825. Dr.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 64

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642