History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 79

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 79

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

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

About one and a half miles below this John Crosley built a saw mill and soon after a grist mill, containing one run of buhrs. A second pair was afterward added. The building was a rugged

and rough frame structure and the floor was bolted by hand. A large undershot water-wheel furnished the power. Crosley sold to George Croy, who erected a new building. John Powers was the next owner and he made extensive im- provements in the machinery, purch using and in- serting new buhrs and new bolts. Mr. Kaiser, the next possessor, carried on a little distillery in connection with it for a while, but this was soon abandoned and the mill also gradually suspended operations. It has been purchased by Ed. Buck- alew and only the saw mill is now running.

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

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

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

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

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

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

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

A cheese factory was started at Bloomfield, in 1866, by George Craig, William Renfrew, Solo- mon Snyder and Robert Graham. For three years it was carried on extensively; then Mr.

Craig disposed of his interest, and the fac- tory was removed about a mile west of town, where the manufacture was continued a while longer.

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

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

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

wife. These had mostly emigrated from Western Pennsylvania. Before the congregation was or- ganized, occasional services had been held here by Rev. Conkling and others. For three years the services were held in the house or barn of William Craig. The first church building was erected in 1837 by George Weatherwax. Its cost was about $200. The site of the building, origin- ally donated, was deeded to trustees May 19, 1846, by William Craig and wife, in consideration of one dollar. In 1867 a new edifice was erected on the same site. It is a good sized and neatly built frame structure, erected by Jacob Miller, and costing $2,250. The ministers of the church have been: Nathaniel Conkling, 1834-38; Revs. Washburn, Turbit and George Gordon were sup- plies from 1838 to 1845; S. M. Templeton, 1845- 47; Samuel Hanna, 1847-51; John M. Boggs, 1851-56; R. W. Marquis, 1857-72; A. S. Milhol- land, 1873-75; T. D. Duncan, 1875-79; J. A. E. Simpson, April, 1880, present pastor. Before Rev. Marquis' pastorate, this congregation was con- nected with the Keene church; since then it has formed a separate charge. The elders of the church have been John P. Kerr, Thomas Guthrie, Robert Huston, George Weatherwax, Thomas Shannon, William Weatherwax, George R. Alt- man, James Endsley, Jr., and John T. Crawford. The last five compose the present session. The present membership of the church is about 150.

A Sunday-school has been in successful opera- tion for more than forty years. It was formerly conducted only during the summer, but at pres- ent the whole year. The average attendance through the entire year is about forty. Albert Altman has recently been elected superintendent succeeding John T. Crawford, resigned, who had had charge of the school for about four years.

Clark Township Regular Baptist Church, situ- ated near Helmick, was organized June 19, 1833, by T. G Jones and E. Otis, with eleven members. Shortly after the organization, the church licensed one of her members, Benjamin White, to preach, and in June, 1834, he was ordained as an elder, and called regularly to the pastorate, in which relation he continued about nine years. Of the early members may be mentioned Edward Mat- tox and wife, Benjamin White, Piatt William-

son and wife, Jacob Mattox and wife, Sylvanus Haviland and wife, William Baldwin and wife, Collin Smith and wife, Mr. Moody, William Pugh and wife and William and Isaac Cross. The ear- liest services were conducted at the house of Ed- ward Mattox, until the church was erected, in about the year 1840. It stood about two miles northeast from Helmick, in section 12. It was a rough frame building, of medinm size, erected with a small outlay of money. Immediately after this meeting house was built a series of revival services were held with great success by the pas- tor and Rev. Elijah Freeman. They resulted in twenty-five or more accessions to the church. After Elder White closed his labors as pastor of the church, a division arose in the councils of the congregation, owing to the desire of some for a removal of the church location, and in a short time two branches separated from the church and held services elsewhere, one at Baldwin's school-house, some distance southeast from the church, and one at Piatt Williamson's. By re- movals these branches became too weak to main- tain separate organizations, and they were united as before, Elder White again becoming pastor of the church. The present house of worship was erected in 1868, on land donated for this purpose by Amos Fox. It was constructed by Isaac Wil- liamson, is thirty-four by forty-four feet in size, with a seating capacity of three or four hundred persons, and represents a cash outlay of about $1,300. The pastors in order have been B. White, Elder Ammerman, H. Sampson, J. W. Dunn, S. W. Frederick and Howard Clark. The last men- tioned has been ministering to this people for the space of about three years. The estimated mem- bership of the church is thirty.

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

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

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

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

Salem church is located on lot 8, of the second quarter, close to the northern line of the township, and its membership probably is as strong in the adjacent county as in this. It was organized as a German class, in 1862, with a membership of twenty-six, including John Dobbert and wife, H. Scheibe and wife, Gottfreid Scheibe and wife, Valentine Scheibe, Jacob Mullet and wife, Her- man Rodhe and wife, Fritz Grafe, Joseph Lint and wife, and Francis Schueberger and wife. Rev. William Pfeiffer was the first minister. The church belongs to the same circuit that includes Hopewell Church. The early meetings were held in an old log church, near the present church, formerly occupied by a United Brethren congre- gation, which for a few years maintained an or- ganization here. In 1871, the church building

now in service was erected, at a cost of $1,000. It is a frame building, the dimensions of which are twenty-five by thirty-five feet. In 1876, an Eng- lish class was organized, and the two have since been carried on separately. The German class contains sixteen members at present; the Eng- lish class, fifty-five. The services are now usually conducted in English.

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

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

The population of Clark township in 1830 was 246; in 1840 it had reached 703; in 1850, 833; in 1860 it had fallen to 796, but in 1870 it had in- creased to S67, and in 1880 still farther to 1042.

CHAPTER LIII.

CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP.

Location-Survey-Soil-Settlers-Population-First School- Industries-Churches-New Bedford-Chili.

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

eounty, on the east by Buck's township, Tuscara- was county, on the south by White Eyes, and 'on the west by Mill Creek township. The first, or northeast quarter, is a military section, which was surveyed in forty 100-acre lots by A. Holmes, in 1818. The remainder of the township consists of congress land, surveyed in 1803, by Ebenezer Buckingham. It was organized as a township in I823. The name is said to have been given in honor of Associate Judge Crawford, who held a considerable tract of land in it.

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

No one is known to have preceded Jacob Miser in the permanent occupancy of this territory. He was the first of a group of Pennsylvania Ger- mans who came into the dreary wilderness that shrouded the hills, and by unflagging industry, converted it into pleasant hillside farms. Mr. Miser came about 1815, and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 22, where his son, Samuel, still lives, and remained there till he died. He at first could provide his family only with a rudely constructed eamp, and afterward went eight miles for assistance in raising his first cabin. Philip Fensler, his father-in-law, had entered some land in the township previously, but did not remove to it till about a year after Miser eame. He had served in the war of 1812, and owned a little property in Virginia. He disposed of this to advantage, and with the proceeds and his army wages, entered several quarters of land, among them the southeast quarter of sec- tion 23, upon which Chili is built. Mr. Fenster remained in the township till his decease. Ilis son John continued on the place for some time, then went West. The Fensters were accompa- nied or speedily followed by several other fami- lies, all of whom located in the southern part of the township. William Stall settled on the south-

west quarter of section 23; William Gotshall, who was directly from Harrison county, the southeast quarter of section 22, where he spent the remain- der of his life ; his brother, George Gotshall, who afterward removed to Indiana, the northwest quarter of section 21; John Albert, the northwest quarter of section 22. He was from Pennsylva- nia, and subsequently removed to Adams town- ship, where his widow, now said to be a centena- rian, stillsurvives. Daniel S. Salsberry, originally from Pennsylvania, but immediately hailing from Jefferson county, eame about 1817, to the south- east quarter of seetion 18. William Farver at this time owned the southeast quarter of section 21, and not many years later, his son John oeeu- pied it. The veritable John Smith, too, ranked among the foremost settlers. His freehokl eon- sisted of the northeast quarter of section 23.

From this time on the settlement of the town- ship was słow. As late as 1835 there was still un- entered land. The rough character of the sur- face held out no entieing allurements of a life of ease, and those who located here did so expecting to endure innumerable discomforts and to reap no bounteous rewards for their toil. Other early settlers were Jacob Rinehart, John Gonser, Adam Miller, George Lower, Benjamin and Daniel Lower, Mr. Stomm; Mr. Shauwecker, and others. In 1828 David Everhart settled in the wilderness, on the southeast quarter of section 20. He was from Pennsylvania, and about IS20 or 1821 had come to White Eyes township, where he lived till he came here. His farm in this township he had received from Philip Fenster, as a compensa- tion for elearing forty acres of land in White Eyes township.

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

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

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

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

John Smith built the first and only mill, on the northeast quarter of section 23. It was a little log structure at first, with one, afterward with two, run of buhrs, set in operation very early and continued many years. Mr. Gonser began the

construction of a saw-mill near New Bedford, but the dam was swept away before it was fin- ished, and never was replaced.

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

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

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History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 79

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854