History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 94

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 94

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

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

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

One of the earliest postoffices in the county is White Eyes Plains. John Junkins was probably the first postmaster. He was succeded by James Lisk. The offee is still kept at Oxford Station, by the agent, William Coles. When Evansburg was laid out. a postoffice, which is a requisite of every well-appointed village, was obtained and Joseph H. Watkins and Moses Morgan were sue- cessively postmasters. About 1858 it was re- moved to Orange, where it still exists, though re- taining the old name. James R. Johnson was postmaster here.

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

was erected in 1875, at a cost of $2,200. It was erected mainly by the efforts of John Richmond and J. B. Peck. The society was fornicd of mem- bers from other congregations in the neighbor; hood. The membership at present is small.

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

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

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

The principal early members were John Everall and wife, John Mackey and wife, James King and wife, and Thomas Smith and wife. Its condition is prosperous.

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

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

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

CHAPTER LXIV.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

Name-Organization-Physical Features-Early Settlements -East Union-Churches-Schools-Mills.

THIS is one of more than a score of townships

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

Near the northeastern corner of the township stands a United Brethren church known as Ever- all's church which was built many years ago. | county and is bounded on the south by Pike and

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

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

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

The entire township is composed of congress land. It was surveyed in 1803, by John Mat- thews, and began to be settled seven or eight years later. It is not known who the first settler was. Elias James came to the township from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1812. His daughter, Mrs. Noah Buxtou still occupying the old home farm, the northeast quarter of section 20, at the time of her father's emigration was four years old and recollects that there were then but three settlers in the township, Henry Hull. John Neldon and Henry Grim. They had been here at least a year or two before Mr. James came, perhaps a little longer. John Neldon was also from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and Mr. James stopped at his cabin, on the northeast quar- ter of section 9, until he could provide himself and family with a place of shelter; he first settled in section 11, but very soon Henry Grim wanted to leave this part of the country and sold his claim upon the realty he occupied to Mr. James, who forthwith took possession. Grim had had a little difficulty with the Indians, and had grave appre- hensions that they wanted his scalp. The trouble was of this wise: Grim, with a Tentonic earnest- ness and application, was endeavoring to raise a crop of corn upon a little patch of ground he had cleared, and as fences were as yet unknown, his success was seriously compromised by incur- sions of deer at night. This naturally irritated the German, and many a deer paid the penalty of death for its rash intrusion upon the premises. The Wyandot Indians lived somewhere in the

vicinity and allowed their horses to roam at will during the night. One of these, which they had stolen from the whites somewhere, had not for- gotten its provender of ohl, and possessed a pen- chant for the succulent green corn of Grim's planting, which was decidedly detrimental to its growth. Grim repeatedly warned the Indians to keep the horse away or he would shoot it; but his words fell unheeded upon the ears of the red men. Forbearance at length ceased to be a vir- tue in Grim's estimation, and the noble brute fell a victim to his laden messenger of death. He thus incurred the animosity of the savages, and as the clouds of war lowered in the West, he deemed it the part of prudence to remove be- yond the reach of the tomahawk, and accordingly went East.

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

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

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

cultivation, it was rapidly entered, mostly by resi- dent settlers.

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

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

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

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

A settlement of Germans came in early, per- haps in 1815, most of them from Beaver county,

George and John Mowry came about 1818. Pennsylvania. Among them were Peter Ault, who entered the southwest quarter of section 23: Leonard Divan, the southwest quarter of seetion 18 and the northwest quarter of section 23; his two sons, John and Henry, the latter owning the northwest quarter of section 22; Henry Billman, the southwest quarter of section 21; George Sos- saman, the southeast quarter of section 15; Fred- erick Shrake, the southeast quarter of section 23, and Jacob Shrake, the north half of the southeast quarter of section 19. The last mentioned moved to Wisconsin, and from last accounts was still liv- ing

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

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

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

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

about the same time, entered the southwest quar- ter of section 5.

William Dillon, father of Israel Dillon, the present clerk of the court, came from Green county, Pennsylvania to the township about 1815, entered and cleared a quarter section, which he continued to occupy until his death, in 1862, he being then sixty-eight years of age.

East Union is the one village of the township. It is situated in the southwest part of the north- east quarter of section 7. Two rival villages once flourished in this vicinity. The first of these, New Guilford, was laid out by Dr. Elisha Guil- ford Lee, March 30, 1825. He was the first phy- sieian of the township, coming here from Mount Vernon. The village plat was located a short distance west of what is now East Union, and consisted of fifty lots. A quarrel arose between the doctor and John Conaway, who owned the quarter-section just cast of New Guilford, and the latter thought that if Dr. Lee could found a town, he could do the same. Accordingly, in April, 1826, he laid out a town plat on the ridge facing New Guilford, a little valley intervening. It consisted of thirty-six lots, and was dedicated Claysville by the proprietor. Then, the antagon- ism waxed hot, and each village sought to im- prove itself at the expense of the other. Cona- way possessed some advantage. He was a car- penter, and agreed to assist in erecting the cabins of settlers in his town, a consideration which prevailed with a number. After some years the two proprietors clasped hands across the inter- vening chasm and consolidated. By aet of leg- islature, the name of the town then became East Union. 1n 1831 an addition of fifty lots, con- necting the two villages, was made by Dr. Lee ; a small addition had previously been made to Claysville by Conaway. East Union now in- cludes only what was formerly Claysville, New Guilford having been practically vacated, and now used for farming purposes. The Ohio Gazeteer, published in 1833, says, that in that year Claysville, or East Union, contained forty- one dwelling houses, two physicians, five stores, one oil-mill, four cabinet makers, one tailor, two shoemakers, two blacksmiths, one hatter, and sey- eral carpenters. The population was estimated

to be nearly 300; in 1830 there were seventy- eight inhabitants; at present there are less than 100. Dr. Lee secured the postoffice, and for a while was postmaster; then by some means Mr. Conaway received the appointment. It still re- tains its original name, New Guilford. The first store was opened at Claysville, by John Pigman. It was owned by John Jacobston, of Dresden, and kept up for a few years only. At present there are two dry goods establishments here, owned by J. W. Allen and Elijalı Richards; one miscella- neous store, John Martin; and two groceries, Adam MeCain and Mr. Allen. Dr. David Mc- Elwee is the physician. The school-house is a two-story building, erected about 1870, and be- longing to the adjacent districts. William S. Kil- patrick and Miss Nancy Marshall were the first teachers in this building.

The township is well supplied with churches. There are now in active operation three Method- ist Episcopal, two Baptist, one Christian Union and one Lutheran church; besides, there have been several organizations, now defunct. The Goshen Methodist Episcopal church is the pio- neer religioussociety in the township. Thechurch is located on the Coulter farm in the eastern part of section 12. About 1820 there was built here a hewed log structure which served as a house of worship till 1859 when it burned. The earliest meetings were held in the school-house where Rev. Thomas Carr preached. Other early minis- terial laborers in this field were. David Limerick, -- Pardew and James Taylor. Rev. Joseph Pigman, Rev. John Cullison, Mrs. Nancy Wright, Henry McVey, William Lee and William Coul- ter were strong pillars in the organization in its early life. In 1860 the present comfortable frame edifice was erected on the site of the old church. The membership at present scarcely exceeds twenty-five. Rev. A. A. Mccullough is pastor. A Sunday-school, superintended by Joseph Coul- ter, is a successful branch of the church work.

Wilson's Chapel, or the Methodist church on Cullison's ridge, lies within a half mile of the northern line of the township. The first class was organized at the house of Shadrack Cullison fully sixty years ago. Here and in other cabins in the neighborhood John Ahnack and wife,

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

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

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

Mohawk Regular Baptist church, located in the northeast part of the township, was organ- ized about the year 1841 or 1842. Bosley Par- rish, John Berry and wife, John Neklon, Alex- ander Dunlap and wife, Samuel Pritchard and wife and William Buxton and wife were early, prominent communicants. In 1846, the mem- bership was forty-nine, and a few years later had increased to about 100, but since then it has gradually decreased, and is at present about forty. Soon after the organization, a small frame church was built which still serves as the house

of worship. The ministers who have labored as pastors of this church are as follows: S. Wick- ham, J. Frey, Jr., R. R. Whittaker, A. W. Ar- nold, E. B. Senter, S. W. Frederick, H. Clark and James K. Linebaugh, the present pastor.

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

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

The Winding Fork Evangelical Lutheran church stands in the southern part of the town- ship, in the eastern part of section 17. The pres- ent small frame building was erected in the sum- mer of 1880. The oll meeting-house occupied the same site and was built about 1848. Before it was built, preaching had been held for some

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

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

An Episcopal church, known as St. Matthew's, formerly flourished in the western part of the township. As early as 1823, a log church was erected, which gave way some years later to a substantial brick, still standing, in the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 6. John Trimble, Adany Murray, John Scott, Wil- son and William Rodden, and George Melick were members with its early membership. The congregation at one time was of considerable size. It was supplied by ministers from Gambier. Regular services were suspended some ten years ago.

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

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History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 94

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