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 65

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 65

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361

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Isaac Helmick, who hung out his sign (if sign he oilmills of George Jackson were put in operation had) at West Zanesville, is thought to have been on the west side of the river, and not far distant, the primitive physician in Falls township.

on the same side a forwarding and commission The furnace and foundry established at Dillon's warehouse was erected by James Taylor. It was Falls, in 1805, by Moses Dillon Sr., has been men- about this time, too, that the gristmill of Richard tioned. About ten years later he erected a flour- Fairlamb and Michael Dulty was erected on the ingmill and two sawmills near the Falls. These west side a little below the dam, which mill later enterprises were important for that time, consider- became the property of J. & R. Drone, and not ing the locality, and it is said that at times more long afterward was erected Gillespie's linseed oil- than a hundred men were employed in carrying mill, near the present site of the west abutment them on. With the store (opened about 1806) of the railway bridge, which subsequently came they formed the nucleus of a settlement which at into the possession of R. N. & D. Dunlap, who one time included about half a hundred families. converted it into a broomhandle and clothespin Mr. Dillon died in 1828 at the advanced age of factory. The present dam was built in 1838 by ninety-four years. His sons, John, Isaac and state appropriation. Glen Moore nursery, near Moses Jr., were men of good judgment and much Zanesville, was established by S. Jacobs Moore business ability. The former operated the foundry about 1856.

for some years after the death of the father. About

The Quaker burying-ground, a mile west of sixty-five or seventy years ago Isaac engaged in Zanesville, near the mouth of Timber run, was the manufacture of linseed oil, cloths, including the first graveyard opened in this township. The cassimeres and satinets, and carpets, in West ground, an acre in area, was donated by John Dil- Zanesville, at the mouth of the Licking, where he lon Sr., more than fourteen years ago, and among had also a sawmill and a store, and for some years the first interments there were those of William his business was quite extensive. Both John and Tudor and members of his household. On the Isaac Dillon were well known farmers and fruit north side of the National pike, about two miles growers, and the latter introduced the breeding of from Zanesville, is the Jewish burying-ground, Merino sheep and raised much fine stock. They which was laid out twenty-one years ago, and has were prominent in the organization, in 1836, of been improved.

the Muskingum County Agricultural society, of Mention has been made of the first preaching which the former was the first president. John in the township by Rev. James B. Findley (Method- Dillon died at the age of eighty-six years in 1862. ist), in 1810, and the organization, by him, of the

Thomas Wilkins, on the National pike, five first "class" of worshipers of that denomination. miles west of Zanesville, began the manufacture Through Mr. Findley's influence a hewed-log of pottery in 1874, and about the same time a sec- church was erected, not long afterward, by a pop- ond pottery was established in this township near ular subscription, which was dedicated, before it the falls of the Licking. Philip Mourin dis- was finished, by Bishop McKendree, who preached covered limestone in the Newtonville strata, and from these words: "And upon this rock I will above it iron ore of good quality, and in a deposit build my church." Many years later this primi- about half a foot in thickness. Prior to 1880 a tive structure was superseded by a frame building. good deal of this iron ore was hauled to Zanesville The influence of Rev. Mr. Findley seems to have and consumed in the furnace there. About 1874 Mr. been exerted for the good of the people at Dil- Mourin, in company with D. Hatton, began the lon's Falls in more ways than one, and it is re- operation of a lime kiln not far below the Falls, lated that some time in 1810 he called the which they continued successfully until about settlers together, and, standing on an inverted ket- twelve years ago. About 100 bushels of lime tle, delivered to them such a strong plea in behalf were produced daily by a continuous burner, and of temperance that every one present signed and found a ready market in Zanesville. Below the long kept the pledge. Rev. George Ellis was an- limestone at Dillon's Falls is a strata of magnesian other early Methodist "itinerant" who preached in limestone from four to ten feet thick, which has this township. Rev. David Sherrard was the first reg- been used to advantage in architecture, it being ular class-leader and preacher at the Falls. In the soft and readily shaped when first quarried, and northwest part of this township a Methodist organ- having the advantage of hardening under brief ization, known as "Hayne's" or "Hooper's" so- atmospheric exposure. William Trago began to ciety, was effected. A house of worship was erected burn brick in Falls township in 1808, near the A. about 1810, which, on account of a burned log in M. Hollingsworth place, about two miles from one of its walls, was popularly known as "Black Zanesville. About a year later the Muskingum Log church," though by some it was called "the river was first dammed at Zanesville, a little above chapel."

the site of the present dam, and the grist, saw and

The Rich Vale Methodist Episcopal church was

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

organized and its house of worship was erected soon The land on which the house of worship stands was after 1840. The building is located on the Zanes- donated to the organization by C. C. Goddard, of ville and Dresden road, about five miles from Zanesville, who deeded it to John Vandenbark and Zanesville. Among the original members of this William Camp, as trustees. The Methodist Prot- church were the families of F. N. Walker, S. M. estant church of Falls township was organized Bell, Nathan Kelly, E. Wilkinson and Simeon about 1835, at Jolin Tanner's house, where Revs. Kelly, and their heads. Oakland church was or- Joseph Thrapp and Cornelius Springer preached at ganized in 1844, and among its constituent mem- times. The house of worship, near the center of bers were J. Pake, John Vandenbark, D. Ed- the western border of the township, was erected in wards, William Camp and Mrs. J. Geyer, and their 1856. Rev. Mr. Thrapp also preached occasion- families. Rev. W. H. Marshall was the first reg- ally in the schoolhouse on the Frazeysburg road, ular pastor. William Camp, John Vandenbark which was erected more than fifty years ago on and David Edwards were the first class-leaders. land donated for the purpose by John Vandenbark.

Chapter XLIII.

MUSKINGUM TOWNSHIP.

HIS, the second from west to east of the sec- Zanesville was divided between this and Falls ond tier of townships of the county from the township. On the last Saturday in the same month northern limit, is bounded north by Jackson, Cass the first township election is said to have been and Madison, east by Madison and Washington, held at the house of Capt. James Taylor. Among south by Falls and west by Licking. The Mus- those who were elected to office was Henry Butler, kingum river flows along its eastern border. justice of the peace.

Devore's run, which has its source in Cass township

Among the early settlers in this township were flows southeasterly through the western part of David Devore, James Black, James Beach, John Muskingum. There are in the township some Bland, Elijah Stradley, Ebenezer Ryan, Timothy smaller streams, and some never-failing springs. Prior, Jesse Dowell, William Bland, Levi Cooper, The general surface is undulating, but in the George Welsh, Samuel McCann and Joseph Spen- eastern part, near the river, are prominent head- cer. The first three named came about 1797, and lands, some of which rise quite abruptly. The were the first white men to make a home in this soil is chiefly a sandy loam, though in the head- township. Devore at first located and erected a lands spoken of is found a predominant clayey sub- cabin near the Muskingum, in the east part of the soil. Coal is plentiful in the eastern portions, and present township but removed to a place on the south iron has been found. The principal timber trees half of section 6, township 2, range 8, near the are the oaks, hickory, ash, elm, beech, chestnut stream since known as Devore's run. One of the and walnut. There is an abundance of sandstone others located on the Stitt farm. The third was

and limestone. The stone is of good quality and of an unsettled disposition and did not choose a well adapted to building purposes. The township permanent home. John Bland who located on a is traversed by the Cleveland & Canton and Cincin- part of section 13, is thought to have come the nati & Muskingum Valley railroads. Ellis, eight next year, and Silas Bland, his son, was born miles north of Zanesville, and seven miles south in camp before his parents had got settled in their of Dresden, in the eastern part of this township, wilderness home. Stradley and Ryan came in the on the western bank of the Muskingum river, a year last mentioned and the former located on lot station on these lines was founded, and its post- 36. William, brother of John Bland, came office was established a little more than twenty in 1803, and Cooper, Welsh, McCann and Spencer years ago. five years later. Rev. Joseph Thrapp, John Dor-

As it is now bounded, Muskingum township sey and Samuel Guest settled in the township in was organized September 3, 1817, when West 1810, Dorsey on the west part of section 4.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Thrapp who had come from Virginia to Licking tillery prior to 1820. Another was established county, settled upon the J. E. Trapp farm in the near the river by Col. George Jackson about 1818 southwest corner of the township. Samuel Baxter or 1819. Michael Hahn was operating a distill- and Henry J. Butler came in 1812, the latter locat- ery in the township in 1824, or about that time. ing north of Thrapp. Three years later came J. Col. Jackson, above mentioned, was making salt in M. Lane, a blacksmith, who located on section the eastern part of the township, near the river, 19. He came from Baltimore county, Md., as early as 1821. The first public house was and Norman Gorsuch, from the same locality ar- opened by David Devore, at his residence, as early rived soon afterward and located on the Joshua as 1812. The house of Dutton Lane was thrown Gorsuch farm. He brought with him his family open to the public traveling over the Zanesville and his household effects, and it is said that they and Coshocton road about 1820. The Devore log covered a distance of 375 miles intervening between house was primitive enough as a tavern, but Lane's their old home and their new one in twenty-two was still more so, for it is said to have contained days. Joshua Gorsuch, a son of the pioneer, mar- only one room, and that a by no means large one. ried a daughter of Rev. Mr. Thrapp, and lived to Firman Spencer, above mentioned, erected the first an advanced age. Norman Gorsuch died aged brick house in Muskingum in 1825, near where seventy-three years. Shannon was laid out five years later. Robert

Timothy Prior, one of the pioneers, died in Welsh opened the first store in that locality about 1799, and his is believed to have been the first 1845. It is stated that at that time, when wheat burial in the township. Two other pioneers, Jesse was unsaleable at 20 cents a bushel in trade, its Dowell and James Devore, died the following year. producers had to pay three to four shillings per The Gardner farm was the scene of their burial, yard for calico, 50 cents and more a pound for and thus became the township's first cemetery. coffee, and $2 a pound for tea. Silver coin and William Bland and Daniel Devore set out the first scrip were employed in all transactions where bar- orchards in the first year of the present century, ter was not resorted to of necessity, and there are and not long afterward an apple and peach orchard those who say that coins were cut in halves and was started by George Welsh. The first hewed-log quarters when change could not be made conven- house was erected by David Devore in' 1798. It iently without.

is stated that the first barn built in Muskingum

Early in the history of the township blooded township was one on the George Welsh farm, horses were brought from Maryland and Virginia erected by Richard Owens, carpenter, about 1810, by some of the pioneers. Joshua Gorsuch intro- and it is believed that Owens was the first regular duced imported hogs about 1828 to 1830. A lit- carpenter here. John M. Lane combined black- tle later Isaac Dillon of Falls township introduced smithing with farming, and was known as a black- an improved breed of sheep. Joshua Gorsuch, smith in this township prior to 1815. In the year John M. Lane, Col. Ellis, John McDonald, and last mentioned, or in 1816, Beal Owens set up his some of the Welshes and Blands were extensive and forge, and soon afterward another blacksmith shop successful sheep growers. Durham cattle were was established by Otto Miller. David Devore introduced by James Still and James McCammon. built the first gristmill on Devore's run in 1812,

Rev. Joseph Thrapp, who was a Methodist or thereabouts. This establishment was one of minister of much ability, well known throughout a the most primitive description, it being necessary wide extent of country, organized the first church to carry the ground wheat upstairs in sacks on in the township at his residence in 1810, with men's shoulders for bolting, and the bolting was himself and family and John Thrapp and Messrs. done by hand at that. About the same time Rev. Hickson and Hall and their families as members. Joseph Thrapp put a sawmill in operation on his Rev. James Quinn was the first pastor. This or- improvement. Devore's gristmill gave place to a ganization has had a successful existence, and dur- sawmill, which was standing there about 1825, then ing recent years has met for worship at Sherrard the property of Elias Green. Dutton Lane estab- chapel. In 1815 a camp meeting was held by the lished a tannery on the Dresden road about 1812, Methodists on Mr. Thrapp's farm, and among and Firman Spencer another in his part of the those who preached were Bishops Mckendree and township about five years later. Among early Asbury, as they have since been known. Con- school teachers were Sanford Raimy, John Elliott, versions were numerous, a notable one having Archibald McCann, a man named Phelps, and an- been that of Samuel Hamilton, of Hopewell, who other named Shurtliffe or Shutliff, who is thought subsequently became a preacher in the same de- to have taught the first school in the township in nomination, and as such labored successfully dur- the Pierson schoolhouse about 1815. David Pier- ing a long and useful life. The first Sunday- son and James Welsh are accredited with having school was started by Archibald McCann, who been actively engaged in the management of a dis- taught the Bible all day Sunday, as he taught

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

ordinary school on other days. He is remembered to as the Pierson church, Joseph McDonald and as having had the welfare of the young people family and members of the Welsh family. The of his community at heart, and as being profoundly church and cemetery lot was given by David Pier- devoted to their spiritual and educational interests. son and George Welsh. A Sunday-school was or- An old newspaper contains an account of his acci- ganized about 1850. St Mary's Catholic church dental death by drowning in the canal at Zanes- was organized at the residence of William Mat- ville some time in the latter part of March, 1839, tingly in 1834, and was ministered to by the by walking off the abutment of the open draw- Dominican fathers of Zanesville until 1855. In bridge. In 1813 the Baptists organized a church 1856 a commodious brick edifice was erected on sometimes called the Baxter church, with the fol- John Mattingly's farm, on a church lot of an acre lowing among its constituent members: Samuel which Mr. Mattingly had given. The building Baxter, John Dorsey. and Samuel Guest and their was furnished by Francis Mattingly.

Early deaths in the township have been men- wives and Mrs. Henry Butler, Mrs. Lane, and Mrs. Eastenbauer. Rev. Amos Nix was tioned, and early burials on the Gardner farm have the first pastor. The house of worship of this con- been noted. There were other early interments on gregation is located on the John Welsh farm. the Joshua Butler farm. Many pioneers and their The Presbyterian church in the western part of the descendants are buried in the Baptist and Presby- township was organized in 1814. Its first pastor terian cemeteries, the first mentioned of which was Rev. James Culbertson, of Zanesville. Among comprises three acres of ground. The first burial its original members were David Pierson and fam- in the Catholic cemetery was that of William Mat- ily, in whose honor it has sometimes been referred tingly who died in 1857, aged about seventy-five.

Chapter XLIV.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

THE first actual settler here was probably iam Pringle, John, Jake, Andrew and George Mer- James Finley, a Pennsylvanian, who came to cer, Gen. Samuel Herrick, Rev. Pringle, Thomas the township about 1801 or 1802. His occupation Leach, - Wells, Henry Harris, William Corbin, was that of a weaver, and he afterward supplied John S. Parkerson, George W. Gibbons, Daniel many of his neighbors, the early settlers of McLean, Josiah Fulkerson. The western part of the township, with the homespun cloth of the township was settled largely by Germans, which the clothing worn by them was always among whom were Bowman, Glassman, Corbin, made. Abraham Mercer soon followed Finley to Deffenbaugh, Swope, Lehman and others, whose this township, coming from Virginia, and in the children and grandchildren reside in the vicinity fall of 1803 settled on section 6. Caleb Dunn and exhibit the same industry and integrity that reached the same section in 1805, coming from characterized their fathers.

Scioto, to which place he had taken his family the £ preceding year. Nicholas Border and Lewis ship. John Kepler's still, in the northern part, Several distilleries were operated in the town- Carns came soon after, Border taking a piece of was one of the first, and probably the principal land in the south half of section 1 in the latter one in the neighborhood. William Corbin made part of 1806, and Carns coming the following whisky in a small way about a mile from Kepler's. year, took up land adjoining Dunn, in section 6. Whisky was worth from 18 to 20 cents per gallon, Lemuel Joseph about the same time occupied a and the quality so excellent that old residents portion of section 10. smack their lips when speaking of it, bemoan the

The period of time prior to 1820 was marked degeneracy of the manufacturers of the "poison " by a rapid and steady growth of settlement. of these days and sigh for the good old times, with Among those who settled here during that period old-time pleasures and customs. were John Kepler, Rev. William Sedwick, Will-

The civilizing influence of the church was early

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

acknowledged. Many of the early settlers of this farm, at a place, only a few hundred yards from township were members of church before leaving the family residence, which has since been used as their native states, and on coming to Ohio brought a family and neighborhood burial ground. their religion with them. These realizing the Probably the first blacksmith in the township strength to be obtained by concerted action organ- was Charles Lisk at Duncan's Falls, another at ized a Methodist Episcopal church at the house of same place was a man named Munsey. For many Lemuel Joseph, who was the first class-leader. years the nearest smith was at Zanesville, where Services were held at the house of Mr. Joseph and all horses were taken to be shod and all repair- others for a time, after which a log church was built. work and plow making was done. Edward Trimble Some of the early members of the church were for many years ran a shop at the Falls. " Michael Lemuel and Celia Joseph, Andrew, Mary, John Carns was probably the first wagonmaker in the and Elizabeth Mercer, Margaret Watts. James township, his shop was in the northeast part of Watts was the pioneer preacher of this church. the township near the residence of Robert Griffin, The first meeting house, known as Joseph's meet- A man named Morrison made shoes at Duncan's ing house, was built of logs. It stood and was Falls at an early day.

used as a place of worship until destroyed by fire. Prior to 1835 the only way known to the settlers The present structure, known as "Fairview Chap- by which to separate wheat from the straw and el," marks the site of the old meeting house. A chaff was by use of the flail or by treading out the goodly number of the pioneers were of the Bap- grain with horses, a slow and imperfect process. tist church, among whom we note the families of In the fall of that year Robert Griffin introduced a Caleb Dunn, Evan Crane, William Evans, Daniel threshing-machine operated by tread-mill horse Comstock, Lewis Ayers, David Leright, Mrs. power. This, though it would now be considered Groves, Mrs. Moore, Galbreath and Johnson. a very primitive affair, was then a wonderful ma- Revs. Pringle and Sedwick were the pioneer chine, as by its use as much as a hundred bushels preachers, who worked in the fields or forests could be threshed in a day if conditions were during the week and on Sundays would preach at favorable.

the house of some settler in the neighborhood, preaching without pay.

Wayne township was organized from parts of Zanesville and Salt Creek townships, March 7.

Religion and education go hand in hand, and 1826. Pursuant to this order the election was held the pioneers of Wayne township realizing this fact, at the house of Joseph Dixon, at which Samuel Scott, Mathias Spangler and Jacob Mercer presided as judges of election, and Edward Smith and

soon after the organization of the church set about securing educational advantages for their children. About 1815 a log schoolhouse was erected on what Thomas Leach officiated as clerks.

is now the farm of W. Dunn, to whom we are in-

The offices to be filled at this election were, debted for nearly all our information concerning three trustees, five supervisors, two overseers of this primitive structure. This "temple of learn- the poor, a treasurer, two fence-viewers, one clerk,

ing" was built of round logs, the crevices and two constables. The successful candidates " chinked ", and plastered with clay. In one end were: for trustees, John S. Parkinson, Jacob Mer- was a fireplace which would burn large logs eight cer, Mathias Spangler; for supervisors, Samuel feet or more in length. It was the duty of the Scott, Edwin Smith, David McLean, Daniel Poland, boys attending the school to cut the wood which Mathias Spangler Jr .; for overseers of the poor, was burned. In this building a log was cut out Lemuel Joseph, Benjamin Carter; for treasurer, at the proper hight to afford light in the room, Richard Brookover; for fence-viewers, Benjamin and paper rendered translucent with grease was Barton, Daniel McLean; for clerk, George W. placed in the opening so formed. The floor was Gibbons; for constables, John Mason, Jacob rough puncheons, the seats were of slabs or split Spangler. A little later John S. Parkinson and trees with peg legs. Holes were bored in the Mathias Spangler were elected justices of the walls of the building and wooden pins inserted on peace. these slabs or hewed puncheon were placed for The town of Duncan's Falls was originally laid desks. In a house of this description some of the out in 1841, in accordance with an order of the most worthy men of the county laid the foundations court of common pleas, by John W. Foster, mas- of successful lives. The schools were supported ter commissioner, and James Taylor. Two addi- entirely by subscription of the patrons, and seldom tions to the town were made by Alvah Buckingham, continued longer than three months. both in 1849. The town has a population (1890) The first death in the settlement of which we of 222. It has never been incorporated.

find any record is that of Asa Dunn, a sou of Caleb The town has three churches, Methodist Epis- Dunn, who died the year after his parents removed copal, Baptist, and Presbyterian: four stores, post to this township and was buried on his father's office, and the following secret and benevolent so-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

cieties: Masonic, G. A. R., Knights of Pythias, was also present. The council was organized by Women's Relief Corps, and P. O. S. A., all of appointing Parley Brown, moderator, and Abel which are prosperous. The only factory of any Johnson, clerk. The following seventeen persons consequence in the town is the flouringmill of (sixteen of whom had letters of dismission from John Miller, which is fully equipped with roller Salt Creek church) presented themselves before process and has a capacity of seventy-five barrels. the council, viz. : George Crane, Henry Sapp, The first store in the place was that of James Tay- James Crane, Samuel Harper, William Bolman, lor, prior to 1825. He carried a general stock of George Gander, Susan Comstock, Mercy Crane, merchandise and exchanged for the produce of the Matilda Groves, Sarah Cuberly, Elizabeth Ann settlers. Lyons & Wolff had a store near the Gander, Rebecca Morris, Hannah Armstrong, mouth of Salt creek, in which was opened the first Catherine Sapp, Elizabeth Bolman, Moses Masters, postoffice in the township. The mail was carried and Elizabeth Masters, giving their reasons why by James Larrison, whose route was from Zanes- they believed a Baptist church should be organized ville to McConnelsville. Before this office was in the vicinity of Taylorsville. These reasons, opened the settlers were obliged to go to Zanesville with their articles of faith being satisfactory to the for their mail. Mr. Lyons was the first postmaster. council, they were in the ordinary manner recog- Probably the next store opened in that neighbor- nized as a regular Baptist church. At a subse- hood was kept by a man named Grader. The first quent meeting the new church adopted the name physician at Duncan's Falls was Dr. Mason, who Duncan's Falls Baptist church. At this time the died recently at an advanced age. church had no meeting house, but held their meet-

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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 65

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