USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 87
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The entire township consists of military land. The first section, or northeast quarter of the township, is known as the Joseph Higbee section. It was not occupied to any great extent until after 1820. The second or Swan section, the
532
HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
northwest quarter of the township, was settled early by several families who owned extensive portions of it. The third section, or southwest quarter, is a school section and remained unoccu- pied, except by a few squatters, until about 1825. The fourth section, or southeast quarter, called the Cummins scetion, was at an early day sur- veyed into ten lots of 400 acres each, which were sold by lots or fractions of lots, to men who are numbered among the earliest permanent settlers of the township.
It was probably about the year 1804 that the first permanent settlers began to occupy the ter- ritory of this township. Prior to this date, por- tions of the land had doubtless been cultivated to some extent by squatters with no title to the soil.
Seth McClain, a Virginian, about 1804, settled in the eastern part of the township, putting up a cabin near the fine spring which now supplies Vincent Ferguson's house. After residing some ten years, he discovered that he was on the Hig- bee section of military land, and moved over into Linton township, where he became one of its most active, energetic pioneers. He had married one of the Sells, whose connection had settled further up the river. His son James, father of Seth Mc- Clain of Coshocton, and Colonel R. W. McClain, died a few years ago, aged about seventy-five years.
Thomas McClain came into the township about 1805 and settled upon lot 2 of the Cummin's sec- tion, where he remained until his death. His son Isaac still resides in the township and is one of its oldest citizens.
Thomas Wiggins, from Virginia, was probably here as early as 1804. He settled upon lot 10 of the Cummins section, in the northwest corner of the section, and died in June, 1811. A number of his descendants still live in the township.
George Miller, a brother to Michael Miller, formerly of Franklin township, and to Henry Miller of Jackson township, both among the ear- liest settlers of the county, hailing from Hamp- shire county, Virginia, purchased a traet of about a 1,000 acres off the east side of the northwest section, and settled upon it about 1806. He had previously lived for a few years in the vicinity of Port Washington, Tuscarawas county. He
reared a large family of children, consisting of Windel, Isaac, Daniel, Abraham, Francis, Thomas, George, John and several daughters. George and Isaac, two of the sons, came out first and raised a little cabin, the others following soon after. Abra- ham afterward settled in Clark township. Win- del, John and Daniel were sokliers in the war of 1812; the latter died February 1, 1881, in Plain- field, a very aged man.
In 1804, Francis McGuire, who also was a Vir- ginian, moved to the Tuscarawas valley, near Port Washington, and two years later, came to the northwestern corner of this township. The family was carried in a wagon, which was driven along on the bank of the river, sometimes in it, and they afterwards used the wagon-bed as their shelter and sleeping place, until a cabin could be built, which, in the want of help to any consid- erable extent from neighbors, took more time than in after years. Mr. MeGuire purchased a tract of more than 1,000 acres off the west side of the Swan, or northwest, section, and resided at the old homestead, north of the river, until he died, May 9, 1853, aged seventy-six years. His property is still held by his descendants. His two wives were daughters of George Miller.
Archibald Elson, from Brook county, Virginia, in 1805 or 1806, purchased and settled upon lot 4 of the Cummins section. He died at an early day and most of his descendants moved West. A daughter was married to Richard Fowler, and their posterity is still well represented in Linton township.
Hugh Ballentine was another early settler. He erected and opened the first tavern, and soon after sold it to Striker Morgan.
Matthew Orr, a German, who had been living in New Jersey, came out about 1808, and settled upon a portion of lot 9 in the southeast section.
William Johnson, father of Judge Thomas Johnson, of Linton township, was the owner of seventy-five acres in the same lot and occupied it for a few years, then removing to Linton town- ship. It is said that he received this small piece of land as a remuneration for his services in bringing out the Orr family from New Jersey.
Elijah Nelson, who was here before 1811, mar- ried a daughter of George Miller, and afterwards moved farther west. Lewis Vail was another
Red Rose No. 6
Red Rose No. 23,
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Group of Short Horns, of the Red Rose family, (Sketchedfromlife) Group of American Merinos, descendants of Humphreys importation, of Asbred by Atwood
STOCK FARM AND RESIDENCE OF FRANC
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Merinos, imported from Spain , in 1802. Group of Jerseys, of the Alpha family; (sketched from life). C.Hammond , (Sketched from life ).
GUIRE, SR., P. O., CANAL LEWISVILLE.
535
HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
resident holder of a 400-aere lot on the fourth or Cummins section. He was here before 1811, and moved away before 1821. Nothing is known of his history.
Thomas Foster was in the township prior to the war of 1812. He was from Sussex county, New Jersey, and served as sergeant in Captain Adam Johnson's company at Mansfield. He first lived on the Swan section, but afterward pur- chased a piece of land in the southeastern part of the township. He died childless; was an unof- fending, kind-hearted citizen, and one of the or- ganizers of the Methodist Protestant church.
In 1821 the following additional property owners resided in the township, all on the 4th or Cummins' section : Frederick Dum, John Dean, James Kinner, John Mulholland, Jacob Maple, Jr., John Merrit, John Norris, and Samuel and Jacob Switzer.
Just about this time, or maybe a year sooner, Joseph C. Higbee, from Trenton, New Jersey, settled upon the military section that bears his name, and remained upon it until his death, which occurred about 1873, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He was not the original pro- prietor of the section, but seems to have obtained it by inheritance. Mr. Higbee was a very eccen- tric personage. As illustrating the style of the man, the story was long current in the neighbor- hood that, when he first came to the country, then in comparatively a wilderness condition, he brought with him six dozen ruffled shirts. One of his daughters was married to Rev .- Mr. South- ard, who was for a time a minister of Trinity church, New York. Another is said to have married Mr. Hay, a lawyer in Pittsburgh John Richmond, of Orange, married a daughter by the second wife.
Mr. Higbce sold a small portion of his section, shortly after his arrival here, but the demand for land was not great until the building of the Ohio canal, when a throng of emigrants moved in and purchased all available territory. William Wheeler, Allen Davis, Simon Moses, Henry Shaw, Robert Shaw, Ralph Simeon, Enoch Philips, John B. Stout, James Ransopher, David Fitch, Adam Merrit and Andrew Ferguson were the first pur- chasers from Mr. Higbee.
That portion of the Swan section remaining
after the Miller and MeGuire tracts were sold, was mainly disposed of in parcels after the open- ing of the canal, through the agency of William K. Johnson.
In 1832, an English colony, consisting of Isaac Maynard, Abram and Lewis Daniels, George Cox, George Whooky, James Board, James Jen- nings, John Cole and James George, bought ad- joining lands in the school section. They named their settlement Summerset valley, in honor of their native county in England. Not being prac- tical backwoodsmen, their stay was not protracted; their lands are now owned by Colman Beall and sons, and Judge Burt and sons. Not one of the descendants of the colony remain In the valley.
When Ohio was admitted into the Union, it was agreed by the United States that the one thirty-sixth part of the territory, included within the limits of the State, should be set apart for the support of the common schools within the State. In the United States Military district, the school lands were selected by lot by the secretary of the treasury, in sections of 4,000 acres each. Only one of these school sections fell within the limits of Coshocton county-the third or southwest sec- tion of Lafayette township.
This section was surveyed into twenty-five square lots of 160 acres each. No disposition of the land appears to have been made prior to 1825. About that time, or a little later, several of the lots were leased upon the following conditions: The lessee was to clear a certain portion of the land taken, erect a cabin and plant out an or- chard, and in return for these services was to have free use of the land for a fixed term of years. Among the lessees were Peter Metzler (a Virginian by birth and a Baptist by faith), lot 9; Levi Shaw, who emigrated from New Jersey about 1820, lot 2; Levi and Absolom Roderick, Virginians, lots 5, 6 and 15. There may have been several others whose names can not now be recalled. This system of leasing the land did not afford any immediate income, and, although it enhanced the value of the property, seems to have been unsatisfactory. Consequently, about 1828, the land was soll at public auction at Co- shoeton. It was sold remarkably cheap, $19.25 only being paid for eighty acres in one instance, and, as ten years' time was allowed in which to
22
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
complete payment for it, a number of men in in- digent circumstances availed themselves of this opportunity to procure homes. Among the pur- chasers were Daniel Craig, Adam Aronhalt, Oli- ver B. Rundle, Jacob Ostler and Peter Moore. The latter had emigrated to Coshocton county prior to the war of 1812, and was a soldier un- der Hull at his disastrous surrender. Ostler, too, had been in service. He enlisted from Harrison county, was in General Harrison's army, and came to this county just after the war.
The first settlers were nearly all from Virgi- nia; those who came in a little later were prin- cipally from New Jersey. The township has steadly grown in population and now contains 1018 inhabitants. Of its citizens of a later date, several deserve a passing notice. Colonel R. W. McClain, a descendant of one of its earliest set- tlers, died a few years ago. He was an extensive and successful farmer and stock raiser, one of the township's most substantial and influential eiti- zens. He enlisted and served during the 'Mexi- ean war, and commanded one of the first compa- nies raised in this county in 1861, afterwards ris- ing to the rank of Colonel.
Andrew Ferguson was another prominent eiti- zen who passed away from this earth in the spring of IS79.
James M. Burt came into the township in 1837, having previously spent several years in this county. He was an extensive farmer, wool pro- ducer and stock raiser, and one of the early jus- tices of the peace. He served two terms in the State legislature and two in the senate; was ap- pointed associate judge in 1849, and filled the position till the new constitution, abolishing the office, went into effect. Since that time he has served on the State board of equalization. He is now living just over the county line, near Newcomerstown.
Stryker Morgan kept tavern in the western part of the township, where Francis McGuire now lives, in early times. He came from Sussex county, New Jersey, about 1820, and provided entertainment for the traveler until he died, a few years before the late war. "Morgan's tavern," at the time of its erection, was the only weather- boarded building in the township.
About 1839, Henry Johnson opened a public
house near West Lafayette. Samuel C. McMunn, several years later, owned one about a half mile east of town. The building of the railroad with- drew the custom from these country taverns, and they died a natural death soon after.
Mills did not play a very active part in the de- velopment of this township. The first and only grist-mill of any note was ereeted in 1875, at a cost of $20,000, by Robert D. Boyd, at Wild Tur- key Lock, on the canal, in the northwestern cor- ner of the township. It is a large building, con- tains two run of buhrs, and is now owned by the heirs of Alexander Renfrew. A little corn-mill and a saw-mill had previously occupied the site of this mill. John Barto had, many years before, built a little turning-lathe here, where he manu- factured broom handles. Mr. Willard put in a pair of buhrs and sold to John Balch, who added the saw-mill.
John Morgan had a saw-mill on Morgan's run, upon which the lumber for the first weather- boarded and frame buildings in the township was sawed. It was entirely destroyed by a flood in I852.
Judge James M. Burt, about 1854, built a steam saw-mill on lot 9 of the third section. This was the only stationary saw-mill in the township south of the river. It was operated twenty-one years.
James Hunter owned and ran a little distillery on the Francis MaGuire tract, close to the Tusca- rawas township line, in early days. Somewhat later, Joseph Higbee operated one on the Fergu- son place.
One of the earliest school-houses stood on the line between lots number 1 and 2 of the school section. The building had been a cabin used by Irvin Coulter. School was taught here prior to 1828 by Thomas Fitch, who came from New Jer- sey about ISOS, and was considered the best edu- cated man in the community. He died here and was buried at Jacobsport. About 1815 a little school-house was built on the J. W. Miller place a little northwest of the center of the township. Mr. Dunlap was the pedagogue in this domain and used the ferule freely upon the slightest prov- ocation.
537
HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
When Lafayette township was organized the four military sections were organized as school districts, and log cabin school-houses built in each section.
On the Swan section the school-house stood on the State road near the east line of lot No. 5, now owned by Judge J. M. Burt. Here Thomas O'Neal, a well qualified teacher, taught several years and followed that profession until his use- ful life closed in White Eyes township at an ad- vanced age.
The Higbee section house stood on the south side of the State road a little west from and op- posite the present brick school-house. Here James Curran taught for a time and left for parts unknown to the present inhabitants. He was suc- cecded by W. M. Cammart who remained until the erection of the brick school-house near the Baptist church.
The Cummins section cabin stood near where the frame school-house of district No. 1 now stands. John Buker was the teacher. He went West many years ago. The school section cabin stood near the center of lot No. 8, about eighty rods southwest from the present frame house known as the Burt school-house. Craven A. Mc- Bane taught the first school here. His father, Jesse McBane, was one of the earliest settlers of the school section, and a useful and highly res- pectable citizen of the town. Both father and son have been numbered with the dead many years. The only surviving member of the family in this county is the youngest son of Jesse, John C. MeBane, now county commissioner.
West Lafayette postoffice was established about 1839. It was obtained through the efforts of Judge Burt and others. Henry Johnson was the first postmaster, and retained the office for many years. It was abolished for a brief season dur- ing Harrison's administration, but soon after re- established. Following Mr. Johnson in this offi- cial capacity, have come Samuel C. MeMunn, James McMath, and Robert Bcall.
The village of West Lafayette was laid out in 1850, by Robert Shaw and William Wheeler. The original plat consisted of only thirteen lots, eight of which were north and five south of the State road, now Main street. Additions have
since been made by Rue & Ketchum, James M. Burt and J. H. Russell. The village is built upon a level plain, and contains an even 250 in- habitants. It is by no means compactly built, but is strung along the one street for a distance of half a mile. An unusual number of its dwell- ings are fine, spacious residences, and every thing betokens an active, thriving, little business place. It is the.only village in this county, beyond the county seat, that can boast of a railroad. The " Pan Handle " road passes through it, and doubt- less gives it much of its business stir.
John Coles, an Englishman, opened the first store in the township, in 1833, on lot No. 9, of the school section (then called Summerset valley), which lot he then owned. In 1836, he sold his lands and removed his store to the Ketchum farm, and from there to Wild Turkey Lock, and in 1850, to the town of West Lafayette, where he died and was succeeded by Abbot & Andreg. Thornton Fleming erected a dwelling and store- room in 1853, and remained in business there until his death. Samuel Adair sold goods there for a short time ; also Thomas and Robert Scott. Stephen Rolley opened a store in a room erected by William Paddock, which was soon after de- stroyed by fire, together with Paddock's dwelling. James MeMath, in 1858, built a store-house and dwelling, and remained in business there until his death, in February, 1868. His wife died some months before him. His son, J. G. MeMath, con- tinued the store a few months, when the remain- ing stock was sold at public sale, and there was no store here until the spring of 1869, when T. H. Familton bought the MeMath real estate and began business with an extensive stock of goods. Mr. Familton has been in the mercantile busi- ness here ever since. Besides his store, there is now that of Smith & Scott. Bell & Leggett are grain dealers.
Dr. George E. Prior was the first resident phy- sician. He began boarding at Johnston's tavern in 1842, but soon purchased five acres of land and erected thereon a pleasant residence, now stand- ing due south of the Lafayette depot. He died after a residence of sixteen years, and was suc- ceeded by Dr. Whittaker, who subsequently re- moved to Oxford township, where he died. Dr. Joseph S. Barr purchased property, practiced
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
here several years, and sold out to Dr. J. C. Hughes, who secured an extensive practice and sold out in 1880, to Doctors Richards & Yarnell, who, with Dr. Morris and Dr. W. W. Williams, now dispense medicine to the afflicted.
Samuel Gorsline and John Weir feed the hun- gry public, for a just and equitable recompense. Two grocery saloons find a local habitation here, and the artisan's crafts are represented by two blacksmith shops, one wagon, one harness and one shoe shop.
The school-house is a commodius, two-story brick, standing a short distance cast of the vil- lage. It was erected during the year IS71, at a cost of $3,000. The first term began January 2, 1872, with William Gorsline and Miss Kate Boyd as teachers. The old school-building was a little brick, which stood opposite the Baptist church, and in which William McCanimant was the first teacher.
Grange No. 1,310, located at West Lafayette, was organized in February, IS78, by Mr. John McDonald, of Coshocton county. The first offi- cers were James M. Burt, master ; C. F. Sangster, overseer; Joseph Love, lecturer ; J. B. Burt, sec- retary, and Francis McGuire, Jr., treasurer. C. F. Sangster succeeded Judge Burt to the office of master, and he in turn was succeeded by James L. Rogers, the present incumbent. The mem- bership of the grange has increased to about fifty and comprises in its list the intelligent, wide- awake, successful farmers in this vicinity.
The West Lafayette Baptist church was formed in 1870, by dividing the congregation of White Eyes Baptist church into two parts and organ- izing the western division into a separate congre- gation. The White Eyes Plains church was the first Baptist society formed in Coshocton county. It was organized at the house of Isaac Evans, in Oxford township, November 5, 1825, by Elders S. Norris and William Spencer, with the following members: James Brooks, Windel and Jane Mil- ler, Levi and Rachel Rodruck, Ezekiel and Sarah McFarland, Elizabeth Worth, Rachel Calhoun, Hannah Barto and Catherine, Hannah and Lydia Rose. James Brooks was the first deacon and , Benjamin Headly, who became a member soon after, the first clerk. Elder Norris was the first
pastor, and labored with them three years, when he was succeded by Elder William Spencer, who continued with them until about the year 1831, at which time the church numbered about twenty-four members. The carliest places of worship were dwellings and school-houses in this and Oxford township. The first recorded meet- ing in this township was held at the house of Windel Miller, May 21, 1825. In the year 1847 the present house of worship in West Lafayette was erected. Three years later another church was built, near the center of Oxford township, to accommodate the eastern portion of the church, making it a regular place of worship. In 1870, the church having largely increased in members, efficiency and territory, divided into two sepa- rate and independent bodies, as mentioned above. The pastors, up to the date of separation have been, after William Spencer, Elders Pritchard, Sedgwick Rice, L. Gilbert, H. Sayer, L. L. Root, H. Broom, A. W. Odor, J. G. Whitaker, L. Rhine- heart and E. B. Senter. Since then the follow- ing pastors have had charge of the West Lafay- ette church: E. B. Senter, G. W. Churchill, J. F. Churchill, Thomas Jones, J. P. Hunter and D. Trichler. The present membership is about seventy. Prior to 1870 there had been a union Sunday-school conducted at West Lafayette in the Baptist and Methodist churches, alternately, but in that year a Baptist Sunday-school was or- ganized which has been successfully carried on to this day. Its membership is forty-three, and its superintendent, J. B. Burt.
The other church edifice in West Lafayette be- longs to a Methodist Episcopal society. It was erected in the summer of 1856 and dedicated in the following January, by Bishop Simpson and Rev. James Bray. Rev. Charles Holmes had been preaching in the school-house for a while, but no class was organized until about the time the church was built. The church lot was donated by Jacob K. Shurtz, and the building cost about $700. The original class, as nearly as can be de- termined, consisted of the following members: Wilson Carp and wife, Mrs. Julia Miller, Thorn- ton and Eliza Ann Fleming, B. F. and Elizabeth Fleming, Mrs. Eleanor L. Ketchum, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Helms, Thomas Scott and wife, Mrs. Mary
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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.
Ferguson and Dr. George E. Prior. B. F. Flem- ing was the first leader. During the winter of 1867-S, a series of revival meetings were con- ducted by Rev. J. E. Starkey, which resulted in about seventy accessions to this church, besides many additions to neighboring churches. The membership now numbers about 100. In 1880, a spacious, tasty parsonage was erected, which is now occupied by Rev. John I. Wilson. A healthy and flourishing Sabbath-school has been in opera- tion since 1870, over which James L. Rogers now presides Its membership is about seventy.
The Zion Methodist Episcopal church is located in the extreme southwestern part of the town- ship. During the winter of 1848-9, Rev. D. P. Mitchell conducted a series of meetings, at which many conversions were made. One of the bene- ficial results attending the meetings was the im- mediate erection of a church building. The so- ciety had been organized some time before, and services had been held at the adjoining school- house. Among the first members were Abso- lom Rodruck, Joseph B. Johnson, John Smith, Frank, Joseph and Edward Wells and Hiram Jennings. The present house of worship was built about ten years ago, and the society is in good condition.
Plains Chapel, a Methodist Protestant house of worship, is situated on the State road about one and a half miles east of West Lafayette, on a lot donated to the church by Andrew Ferguson. Its erection was begun in 1841, and finished Au- gust, 1842. Though an old, it is still a substan- tial and serviceable brick building about forty by fifty feet in size, and has been extensively repaired of late at a cost of $900. The society was organ- ized in Oxford township, at Loos' school-house, about 1836, and meetings held there until the church was built. The earliest pastors were Revs. Israel Thrapp, Richardson, Ross, Cass Reeves, Joel Dolby, William Baldwin and James "Nugen. The principal early members were An- drew Ferguson, 'George Leighninger, Leonard Richart, Thomas Foster, Simon Moss, James Ransopher, John Paddock, John Switzer, George Waggoner, Christine Loos, John Klinger and Levi Penn. The present number of communi- cants is seventy-five. Rev. William Wells is the pastor in charge. The Sunday-school is an insti-
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