History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 96

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 96

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Exline. The present frame church was built a few years ago, at a cost of about $1,200. The former building was smaller, and built soon after the church was organized. The church had a large following at first, but when the Winding Fork church was organized many members with- drew to unite with it, and the church was left comparatively weak. By removals the member- ship has become still smaller, and is now quite limited. Rev. John Booker is the pastor.

West Carlisle, the only village in the township, lies a half mile from the northern line, near the center of section 2. It is one of the oldest villages in the county, having been laid out in August, 1817. The proprietors were John Perkins and John McNabb. Perkins owned the southwest quarter of section 2, and McNabb the northwest quarter of the same section. The town was laid out on the line between the two quarter sections. The village was probably named by Perkins, who is said to have been from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in honor of his old home. The original plat in- cluded thirty-four lots, but during the same year, 1817, each of the proprietors made a small addi- · tion to the town. Further additions were made in 1831, by William Henderson, William Brown and Harmon Anderson.

The leading character in the early history of West Carlisle was William Brown. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and spent his youth in the service of a merchant in St. Clairs- ville. He came to West Carlisle about 1822, with a small stock of goods, and soon after formed a partnership with a gentleman in Zanesville, and greatly increased his stock. He remained a res- ident of the village until 1840, and during this time was closely identified with its best interests. " His parents were from Germany, spelling the name Braun. His wife was Scotch-Irish. By the combination of the virtues of the two races, the Browns won for themselves great considera- tion in their neighborhood, and, though starting in their wedded life with very little, amassed quite a respectable fortune. Mr. Brown was for many years a justice of the peace and postmaster, under Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson and Van Buren, although he was a very decided Adams and Clay man. He was an excellent horseman,

and skilled in the use of the ritle, and these things helped him greatly in the state of society found in his day in the region of West Carlisle. In public movements and proper sports he was never lacking, and was often recognized as a leader, and made the object of a good deal of 'backwoods homage,' and yet with all his activity in business and interest in the social life of the people, Mr. Brown is represented as having been a very earnest and faithful man in his religious duties. Family worship was on no excuse inter- mitted ; the Sabbath was sacredly regarded; and when, as before and after a communion in the church, there was preaching, the store was shut, although he loved business, and avowed his inten- tion to give himself steadily to it, and to make money for his family. His house was the minis- ter's hold, and he was one of the most active members of the Presbyterian church from its or- ganization, contributing largely of his means to it. In 1840, he removed to Logansport, Indiana. and there died, March 4, 1859. One of the sons, William L. Brown, acting brigadier general of the Indiana infantry, was killed at the second battle of Bull Run. Three sons, J. C., Hugh A., and Frederick T., became Presbyterian ministers.

Mr. Brown's was the first store. William Hen- derson was the first blacksmith. In 1833, there were two churches, three stores, one tavern, one physician, one tannery, two blacksmith shops. two cabinet-makers, two hatters, one wagon, maker, onc carpenter, two shoemaker and two tailor shops. The population then was 107. In 1880, it was 154.

A directory of the village, for 1881, would re- veal the following : Dry goods, L. F. Cheney and J. W. Almack; grocery, L. P. White; wagon shop, M. Baird & Son; saddlery, A. T. Pine ; two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one cabinet shop; carriage manufacturer, G. W. Cooper. This establishment gives employment to seven or eight workmen, and annually builds a large number of carriages and spring wagons. Drs. William Smith and James Edward are the resi- dent physicians.

A Baptist church was bullt in the village about 1845. William and John Dunlap, William Wright and Robert Cochran were leading mem- bers. Rev. Waldron was the first minister.

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

The society grew rapidly for a few years and as rapidly declined. About 1850, the building was sold to William McFarland, who, with others- converted it into an academy, under the man- agement, at first, of Mr. Gilbert. It was after- ward purchased by the school board and is still used as a village school-house. It contains two rooms, both of which are occupied.

West Carlisle, though small, is a stirring village. It is a live, business place and a trading center for many miles around.

CHAPTER LXVI.

TIVERTON TOWNSHIP.

Name - Location -Streams-Physical Features-Aboriginal Remains-Johnny Appleseed-Early Settlers-Population -- First Sehool-Churches-Tiverton Center-Rochester.

TIVERTON township was so-called from a T township in Newport county, Rhode Island, whence a number of early settlers had emigrated. It was organized December 8, 1824, and then named Union. Previous to this time it had formed a part of Richland township, which is still the name of the adjoining township in Holmes county. The name Union did not prove satisfactory to the citizens of the township, for in March, 1825, it was changed by the county com- missioners to Tiverton.

Geographically, it lies in the northwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Holmes county, on the east by Monroe township, on the south by New Castle township and on the west by Union township, Knox county.

The Mohican river traverses the southwestern portion of the township, entering from Knox county and crossing into New Castle township. Its course is through a deep and narrow ravine, which affords but little bottom lands. The small run which enters the river in lot 16 of the mili- tary section has been designated Spoon river. The small stream, a little above this, entering the river on lot 28, is called Folly run. Charles Ryan, who in early times lived near its mouth, once prepared the timber for a cabin near its banks, but for some inexplicable cause did not

ereet it. The hewed logs decayed on the site of the intended cabin, and the fact gave rise to this name. Wolf creek, in the northeast part of the township, flows northeasterly and enters Killbuck creek in Holmes county. In the southern part of the township is Dutch run, named from the preponderating German element in this vicinity. The tallest and most precipitous hills skirt the channel of the Mohican. The land is also rough and hilly in the northern and southern parts, but in the central and eastern portions, and likewise to some extent in the north, the ridge lands be- come rolling, and in places almost level. Sand- stone is the prevailing surface rock, and the soil is principally clayey. The hills and valleys along the Mohican River were covered sixty years ago with a heavy growth of timber, comprising black oak, white oak, chestnut, beach, walnut, ash, elm, hickory, and indeed, almost without exception, all kinds of forest growth indigenous to this climate. Large quantities of white pine timber were rafted, in early days, down the Mohican from the steep bluffs along the river. The greater portion of the township was wooded, but exten- sive regions in the eastern and northern parts were covered when the first settlers arrived, with an underbrush of oak, so slight that a wagon could easily override it. This has now grown to thrifty young oaks, twelve or fifteen inches in diameter.

The third section, or southwest quarter of the township, is a military section, surveyed into forty 100-acre lots by Alexander Holmes, in 1808. The remainder of the township is congress land, surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr.

Traces of the aborigines are still discernable in one or two localities. On Mr. S. H. Draper's farm remains of a stone wall or embankment may be noticed extending across the top of the ridge which fronts on the Mohican valley. It is probably eight rods in length and at one time was three or more feet in height.

A circular earthen fortification, enclosing about three acres, stood on the northwest quarter of section 8, the old Borden place. On lot fifteen of the military section, near the Walhonding canal, was evidently a resort of the prehistoric race. Large quantities of flints, of all sizes and forms, stone axes, pestles, etc., have been fonnd here. Near by was a circular depression in the ground,

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

about two rods in diameter, which was filled with fragmentary bones of human skeletons, mingled with coals and ashes, the whole being covered with about two feet of earth. The skeletons did not seem to be arranged in order, but, from ap- pearances, the bodies had been tumbled into the excavation without any regard to order.

One of the nurseries of the famed Johnny Appleseed was located in Tiverton township. It stood near the north line of lot 36, seetion 3, a short distance from the Mohican river. Tradition saith that it was about one acre in extent, and that in this space Johnny had planted three bushels of apple seeds. While tending this young nursery, he lodged at the house of John Butler, about a mile from the nursery and in Knox county. This was before 1807. The earliest orchards in this vicinity were from this nursery. Isaac Draper had one on the northwest quarter of seetion 15, and many pioneers from Knox county also had resource here in providing them- selves with early fruit trees. A single tree, the sole survivor of a onee large orchard from this nursery, may still be seen on the farm of K. B. Cummings, lot 15, section 3. It measures about twelve feet in circumference and is much broken down. It blossoms every spring, but has not borne fruit for many years.

Several settlers had entered this township prior to the war of 1812, but it was not till about 1816 that a steady tide of emigration set in, which continued until all available land had been occu- pied. The earliest settlers were Virginians and New Englanders, the latter coming chiefly from the vicinity of Fall river, near the line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, mostly from the Rhode Island side.

Isaac Draper was the first settler in the town- ship, and for several years the only one. He was a Virginian, and in 1806 settled upon the north- west quarter of section 15, and soon after entered it. Mr. Draper remained a life-long resident of this place. He died and was buried in the town- ship.

The next settler, of whom anything is known, was William Humphrey, who came to this town- ship about 1812, from the vicinity of Fall river, Massachusetts. He was a brother to Squire Hum-

phrey, a prominent pioneer of New Castle town- ship, and owned lots 19, 20 and 29, of section 3. He brought his family and goods through the wilderness on a litter, made by strapping poles to two horses, placed one in front of the other. The eabin which he hastily put together for the shelter of his family, was without door, floor or chimney, and often at night wild-eats and coons would clamber over the roof and make night hideous with their squalling and screeching.

Mr. Humphrey emigrated to his western home in time to be here drafted for service in the frontier army. His cabin was some distanec from other settlements, and it is said that while out in the woods one day, he was accosted by an officer, a stranger to him, come to summon the drafted men to service, who inquired of him the course to William Humphrey's cabin. Mr. Huni- phrey informed him and, suspecting his errand, passed further into the forest in the opposite direction. He saw no more of the officer and was not disturb any further. This is the nearest approach to early military service by the pio- neers of this township, of which any knowledge is had. Mr. Humphrey purused a farmer's life and died and was buried upon the home place.

William Durban, a Marylander, was here in 1812. He was a farmer, owned lots 15 aud 16, of section 3, and died in Rochester.

Thomas Bordon settled on seventy aeres in the northwest quarter of section 8, which he had purchased from Isaac Draper, soon after the close of the war of 1812. He was from Rhode Island, and had led a life on the ocean wave. Farming was his occupation here until his death. For a time, however, he kept a tavern on his home place.

Stephen and Isaae Thateher, two brothers, eame about the same time and from the same place that Bordon did. Stephen had been the captain of a sailing craft, and entered the north- west quarter of section 3. Isaac was a house- joiner by trade, and followed this occupation in connection with farming. He owned lot 39, of section 3. Both died and were buried in the township.

Isaac Hart, another Rhode Islander, moved about 1818 to the northeast quarter of section 7. His occupation had been house joining, and the

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

little leisure he could spare from clearing his land and raising crops was devoted to his trade. Mr. Hart at an early day made an attempt in the production of silk. A house for the silk- worms was built, and a long row of mulberry trees planted ; but the project failed. The house is still standing. The climate proved injurious to the health of his wife, and at her request he returned to Rhode Island. The name of Tiver- ton for this township is said to have been sug- gested and urged by Mr. Hart until it was adopted.

John Hyatt, in 1817, emigrated from the south branch of the Potomac, Virginia, to the north- west quarter of section 7. He was a farmer, and raised a large family of children. The most of these have removed to other places. One of his sons, Matthew Hyatt, is at this writing still living in this township, and is one of its oldest resi- dents.

John Holt, from Virginia, about 1817, came to the northwest quarter of section 13.

John Conner, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, moved from Virginia to the north- east quarter of section 6, in 1818, where he follow- ed farming up to the time of his death. His brother, James Conner, another carly settler, moved to the west half of the northeast quarter of section 13. He afterward emigrated to Iowa, and there died.

Abram Simmons and his son-in-law, Lemuel Church, who was a shoemaker, removed about 1818, from Rhode Island to this township. Neither acquired much property, but both con- tinued to live here the remainder of their lives.

Charles Ryan was an early settler, who located lot 28 of the third section. He was a singular character, fond of hunting, careless about his af- fairs, and consequently always indebted to his neighbors. 1Ic rarely possessed much ready money, and during harvest and other busy sea- sons his services were in much demand by his creditors. It was not unusual for him to promise to labor for five or six men on a day, and when the time arrived to spend it in hunting and dis- appoint them all. When questioned about this reprehensible conduct, his reply was that he did not wish to see his neighbors leave his presence fecling down-hearted, and that in consequence he

felt constrained to promise them his assistance. Mr. Ryan finally moved West.

The above mentioned settlers include all the resident tax-payers of Tiverton township for 1822, as indicated by the tax duplicate for that year. Four years later, the following were additional tax-paying residents of the township, and as five years must intervene between the time land is entered and the time it becomes taxable, it is probable that the greater number of these had located in the township as early as 1820.

Levi Beaty emigrated from Virginia to this county, and at first leased a tract of land from Mrs. Hull, of New Castle township. He soon after en- tered and removed to the east half of the south- east quarter of section 13.

Daniel Brenaman, in 1826, owned lot 28, section 3, the Ryan lot. George Baker, a Pennsylvanian, had purchased it from Mr. Ryan, and he and his son Peter successively lived here a few years, then removed to Knox county. Mr. Brenaman pur- chased it from Baker, but did not occupy the place for many years. He sold it and also re- moved to Knox county.

George Cummins, of Fauquier county, Vir- ginia, emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1815, and soon thereafter to Knox county. Some time later he came to this township, where he continued to live up to the time of his death. Of his three sons, Eli and Ludwell went west and Kidder B., now in his seventy-ninth year, still has possession of the old home place, lot 15 and a fraction of 16, section 3.

Henry Miller was left an orphan when a small child, and was reared to manhood in the State of Maryland. While yet a young man he came west, and worked from place to place until he ac- cumulated means sufficient to enter the west half of the southeast quarter of section 13. He mar- ried, and spent the remainder of his life on this place.

George Metcalf, who had married a daughter of John Hyatt, lived with his father-in-law a while, then removed to Sullivan county, Indiana.

John Winslow, in the spring of 1820, came to this township from near Fall River, Bristol coun- ty, Massachusetts. For a few years he engaged in "cropping" for Stephen Thatcher, then en- tered the west half of the southeast quarter of

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

section 3. He continued farming, and died upon this place in the autumn of 1880, in the eighty- first year of his age.

Joseph Walker entered the southeast quarter of section 7. He was from Pennsylvania, a cooper by trade and pursued farming and coopering to- gether. He remained a life-long citizen of the township.

Abraham Workman, from Maryland, settled in seetion 6 and continued there, engaged in farm- ing, until his death.

George Titus at a very early day opened a blacksmith shop on the Cummings place. He re- mained only a few years and owned no real es- tate here.

It is notable that almost all the pioneer names of this township are still represented here. There has been no noticeable change in nationality since the first settlement, except that the south- eastern portion of the township has been settled almost exclusively by Germans in small farms of from forty to eighty acres cach. Many of them were laborers on the Walhonding canal and from their earnings saved sufficient to enter a small homestead.

The population of Tiverton township in 1830 was 237; in 1840, 665; in IS50, 812; in 1860, 880; in IS70, 804; and in 1880 it reached 940.

The first school in the township was taught about 1816 by Mrs. Stephen Thatcher in a school cabin which had been built on Mr. Thatcher's place, lot 39. The school was small and not kept up verylong. A few years later another was started on Joseph Walker's farm, southeast quarter of section 7. John Johnson, a young man from the Clear Fork, taught the school. Orin Lane, from Knox county, and Alexander Campbell succeeded him. The latter was an Irishman, proficient in the languages, and a strict disciplinarian. He re- ceived as wages twelve dollars per month. A log cabin was built in section 7 by the settlers in the vicinity, which for many years served the double purpose of school-house and church. "Pap" William Purdy, who was a Baptist, preached here. Many of the earliest settlers were Baptists in religious belief when they emigrated to this township and services were held with greater or less regularity from their date of settlement.

They were known as "old school Baptists," and among their number were Isaac Hart, James Conner, John Holt, Levi Beaty and George Miller.

Tiverton Regular Baptist church, as now con- stituted, was organized in 1841. Of its early membership were James and Abram Workman, Cyrus and Hannah Hyatt, Hannah Workman and Solomon Conner and wife. Elders J. M. Winn and H. Sampson assisted in its formation. Until about 1850, the meetings were held in the school-house. A strong and capacious frame house of worship was then erceted on the northeast quarter of section 6. It is capable of seating 500 people, and is still in service. In 1854, there were about fifty members and in 1860, over 100. Since then the number has decreased to about seventy. The ministers who have labored with this 'church as pastors are as follows: L. Gil- bert, R. R. Whittaker, R. M, Lockhart, B. M. Morrison, A. W. Arnold and S. W. Frederick' Elder Hall is the present pastor. A Sunday- school of long continuanee is still in active ope- ration.

A Disciple church is situated almost a half mile north of Tiverton Center. The congrega- tlon is the strongest body of this denomination in the county, its present membership amounting to about 150. Rev. J. W. Finley has recently been elected pastor, succeeding John F. Rowe. The present church building is a handsome edi- fice, erected in I876, at a cost of $2,000. It is thirty-four by forty-six feet in size, and is sur- mounted by tower and bell. Its windows are of stained glass, and the interior is wainscoted with walnut and ash. The building was dedicated in November, 1876, by Rev William Dowling, then of Kenton, Ohio. The old church stood on the opposite side of the road, and had been erected about forty years, serving as the house of wor- ship until the present church was built. Lem- nel Church and wife, John Bailey and wife, Beneely Purdy and wife and Matthew Hyatt and wife, were some of the earliest members. The society was organized more than forty years ago, the first services being held at the house of Lemuel Church.

A Sunday-school was organized about 1850,

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

with Samuel Stringfellow as first superintendent and a membership of about thirty-five. School has been held every summer since, and now has an average attendance of seventy-five.

Chestnut Ridge Baptist church was organized in the school-house west of 'the river in 1873, with about twenty members, among whom were John Spurgeon, Abraham Hyatt, Jeremiah and Alexander Harding and Jacob McClain. Soon after a church was built in Knox county and the society now properly belongs to that county.

In 1874 or 1875, a " Union Christian " society was organized in the same school-house with a small membership, and with Frank Cummings as pastor. Its endeavor to affiliate under one organization the beliefs of diverse sects proved unsuccessful, and in a few years the bonds of union were dissolved, and the membership re- solved to its original component parts.

In the southeastern part of the township, on the northwest quarter of section 21, stands a German Reform Church. The society was or- ganized about forty years ago by Rev. Baety. The principal original members were John Bauer, Philip Wagner, George Cly, John Rees, J. Craft, J. Shear and Frederick Fry. The early meetings were held in private houses. In 1840, a church was built at a cost of $300. The present frame structure was erected in 1867 at a cost of $1,200. Of the pastors of this church may be mentioned F. Hunche, who served nineteen years ; J. Goekler. three years; H. Wolfman, three years; J. Lud- wig, three years, and J. Biery, the present pastor, six years. The membership is now about 100. A Sunday-school was organized about 1850. It now has a membership of about fifty, and is superintended by Lewis Fisher.

There is no village in this township. At the center of the township, known as Tiverton Ceń- ter, is a store, a blacksmith shop and half a dozen houses. The store is owned by Ed. Day. Benja- min Purdy started the first store at this place, and those who followed him in mercantile busi- ness were George and Samuel Stringfellow, John Trimble, Thatcher & Newell, Newell & Brother, I

then Mr. Day. The postoffice called Yankee Ridge is kept in the store. It is the only one in the township. The mail is bi-weekly, the office being on the route between Nashville and Wal- honding.

In lots 39 and 40, east of the river, are a few dilapidated structures, most of them uninhabited, which mark the site of a once flourishing little village. Rochester was laid out in January, 1833, by Isaac Thatcher and Isaae Draper. The plat consisted of forty-four lots, and small addi- tions were made in 1839 and in 1842, by Mr. Thatcher. Messrs. Thatcher & Draper had built a saw and grist-mill here before the town was laid out. A dam had been built across the Mo- hican, and three run of buhrs were operated in the grist-mill. It remained in their possession eight or ten years, and the subsequent owners have been Thatcher & Lambaugh (Henry), Thatcher & Greer (John), John Greer, Silas & Mark Greer, William Conner, and George Jordon, who resold to Mr. Conner. It remained in his possession until his death, about three years ago, and soon after the mill was burned. It has not been rebuilt, but a little saw-mill has been erected on the site.

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History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 96

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