USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 14
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THE NOBLE FAMILY
John Sweyer was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and coming to this country with his parents first settled in Hagerstown, Md., thence to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1812. He was married to Margaret McDill, of Scotch de- scent. He and his brother-in-law, Col. John Noble ( father of Jolin W. Noble, late Secre- tary of the Interior under Harrison) were among the first to keep what was known as the better class of hotels, John Sweyer being spoken of as the famous hotel man. He afterwards located on his farm south of Amanda and built a large hotel, well remem- bered for the entertainment of its guests, and this being the direct stage line from points west to Washington, D. C., many personages of early history-Henry Clay, Santa Anna and others-were entertained at the inn. John Sweyer was also the brother-in-law of Henry Duble, a pioneer of this county. Of the ten children of John Sweyer, only one survives, this being H. McDill Sweyer, now living in Circleville, at the advanced age of ninety-one years.
The late Samuel Sweyer, son of John Sweyer, was born in Lancaster in 1816, was married to Anna Catherine Lowrie, of Mifflin County, Pa., and located upon his farm west of Amanda, living there until the time of his death in 1898. His children are John C., Elizabeth M., Delia C., Charles F., Clara L. and Mary F. Clara L. died Sept. 18, 1906. John C. was married to Nora Barr. in 1908 and lives on the home farm west of Amanda. There are two children by this union, namely : Anna Katherine and Richard B.
The present township officers of Amanda are as follows : Geo. W. Blue, C. W. Griffith, Meinhard Palm, trustees; C. A. Barr, treas- urer; Bert Borchers, clerk. The members of the school board are F. S. Barr, Milton Wil- liamson, Clint. Reigher, Charles Ruff, G. O. Noecker. The churches are as follows (out- side of the village) : Israel's Church, Geo. F. Ditmer, pastor; Evangelical Church at Trinity and at Cedar Hill, Dubbs Division, C. W. Ruhlman; Evangelical, at Cedar Hill, Esher Division, E. F. Marchland; M. E. Church at Royalton, Amos Turner.
BERNE TOWNSHIP
Berne Township is bounded on the north by Pleasant Township, on the east by Rush Creek Township and by Hocking County, on the south by Hocking County, and on the west by Madison and Hocking townships. This township was christened Berne by Sam- uel Carpenter, one of its earliest settlers, in honor of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, the home of his ancestry. It is one of the largest townships of Fairfield County, com- prising all of Township 14, Range 18, except one and one-half sections from the northwest corner, which belongs to Lancaster township, and two tiers of sections, from I to 12, inclu-
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sive, from Township 13, Range 18. Its en- holder in the township. Joseph Stukey en- tire territory embraces over forty-seven square tered still further down the river. miles.
The township lies in the southeastern part of the county. Hocking River enters from the northwest, and, passing through the en- tire length of the township, flows into Hock- ing County on the south. Its principal tribu- taries are Rush Creek and Pleasant Run. The surface is rough and hilly, except in the nar- row valleys which skirt the streams. Most of the soil is rather poor, being of a gravelly na- ture.
The Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad and the Hocking Canal cross the township along the Hocking River valley. The Cincin- nati & Muskingum Valley Road passes east and west through the northern part of the township.
The Carpenters are credited with being the earliest settlers in the township. The first land entered was that in the Hocking valley nearest Lancaster. Succeeding pioneers occu- pied the lands down the stream until they were all appropriated. Then the valleys of the trib- utaries were settled, and finally the hills.
It was in 1798 that William, David, Samuel and John Carpenter, with their father, emi- grated from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and settled in Sections 7 and 8, in the Hocking valley, just below Lancaster. Below them were the Shellenberger boys, Samuel and Henry. Their father, Henry, traveled here from Pennsylvania, and entered the land. He returned to his old home and left the boys in possession here, George Eckert, another Penn- sylvanian, being next and below them. Abra- ham Ream came also from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1798, and entered Sections 27, 28, 33, 34 and part of 35, on Rush Creek, becoming the most extensive resident land-
Among the earliest settlers on Rush Creek were Peter Stinespring, Henry Inesell, Henry Swartz, from Pennsylvania, and Christian and John Beery, from Virginia. Most of the first settlers came from Pennsylvania, chiefly from Lancaster and Berks counties. Some few emigrated from Virginia. William Col- lins, the father of John A. Collins, an early squire' and prominent citizen, Daniel and Abraham Moyer, Felta Pratz, and others, set- tled in the northeast part of tlie township. Walter Applegate, from Virginia, also set- tled very early in the northeastern corner of the township. John Baldwin, a bachelor, who lived and died here, and Peter Sturgeon, from the same state; John Bibler and Michael Han- sel, from Pennsylvania, and William Bryan, were early figures in the township's history.
William Jackson, from Frederick County, Maryland, in 1805 came to the township. He found an empty cabin on Pleasant Run with twelve acres of cleared land surrounding it, and moved in it in December, remaining two years. He afterwards leased and purchased other lands in the township, and died here in 1850. William Cook, from Henry County, Virginia, in 1805, settled about two miles southeast of Lancaster. He was probably the first justice of the township. He served in the war of 1812 as major, was sheriff of the county and died in this township about 1855. His six brothers, and his father, Ephraim, preceded him here a short time, all living in the same neighborhood. Jacob Iric, from Maryland, and George See, settled in the township about 1805. John Pennebaker came in 1806 from Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is impossible to even mention the names of all the early settlers. During the first years of
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the century they entered very rapidly, and in 1806 there were 112 tax-payers in the town- ship.
Sugar Grove is the only town of note. It is situated in the Southern part of the town- ship at junction of the Hocking River and Rush Creek. It received its name from a heavy growth of sugar timber which had occu- pied its site. An Indian encampment had formerly stood at this place, and a large bury- ing-ground close by. Numerous skeletons have been unearthed and many other evidences of savage occupation have been revealed. The village was laid out by Mrs. Elizabeth Ru- dolph. It was incorporated more than fifty years ago. Its population is nearly four hun- dred.
The first house in Sugar Grove was built about 1835, by Samuel White. It was a log cabin long since removed. It stood on the lot opposite Dennis's hotel. The first store com- prised a small stock of goods, brought to the place by Christian Krebs, and Jefferson Meeks. It was located in the upper end of town where the tanyard now stands.
SUGAR GROVE
One of Ohio's interesting and prosperous villages is Sugar Grove, located in the south- eastern part of the county. This village is so situated that both nature and human enter- prise contribute their utmost to its beauty, sci- entific interest and prosperity. Located ex- actly in the glacial gap through which the romantic Hocking flows, the changing sea- sons present most beautiful and contrasted pic- tures. In summer the landscape is mostly made up of beautiful, dome-shaped hills of most regular contour; but when the frost has plucked away the green covering from the hills, majestic cliffs of rock usurp the prospect, and in the presence of their stern beauty, the
denuded trees that had so lately ridden them away seem to sink into the background, leav- ing scattered here and there the spruce and pine trees, like great green banners waving over a gigantic fortress.
In former ages a glacial spur must have plowed its way through this gap, leaving its sides so abrupt that the rocks still stand bare to a perpendicular height of many feet above the talus that has formed over half way to their summit. On either side the smaller streams have eroded deep and abrupt glens, which, being newer, are surrounded by more lofty ledges than those along the main valley. One of these has been reserved as a national park under the name of Crystal Springs, to which hundreds of excursionists come every year, particularly in the summer. Just north- east of the village stands "The Round Knob," the most wonderful of the many nat- ural formations to be found in the vicinity. This is a hill of equal altitude with the others, but has been cut from the other elevations apparently in opposition to all the laws of nature. It was originally a spur extending from a chain of hills that followed the left bank of Rus Creek. This stream was forced to change its course by an ice dam and has cut a narrow channel through the heart of the hill and it now preversely leaves its older and wider val- ley and follows its narrow course through the hill.
Aside from the business furnished by the agricultural interests immediately surround- ing the village, the chief industrial life is con- nected with the transportation of fuel. The immense quantities of coal handled by the Hocking Valley Railroad contributes moder- ately to the prosperity of the place, but it is situated in the centre of gas transportation for a great portion of the state. Just outside the
CATHOLIC CHURCH, SUGAR GROVE
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PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, SUGAR GROVE ( Lutheran church in rear)
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REFORMED CHURCH, SUGAR GROVE
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MAIN STREET, SUGAR GROVE
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village are the "Northwestern" and the Logan Natural Gas and Fuel Co.'s pumping stations ; within a radius of three miles are three other such compression plants. These stations by the use of ponderous engines, place the gas under pressure ranging from 200 to 300 pounds per square inch in order to transport it to the various cities supplied by them. This extensive industry is the outgrowth of the rich gas field which was here a few years ago.
According to the statements of the oldest residents of the vicinity, the first settlement was made about 1792. About that time Daniel Stuckey took a claim of 1200 acres; on this allotment the village has been built. The vil- lage was incorporated by a special act of the legislature in 1851, and was organized March 25, 1851, with William Fisher, mayor. The following is a list of the citizens who have officiated as mayor since that time : 1852, Dan- iel Rudolph; 1853, I. A. Ream; 1854-55, E. A. McFadden; 1856, D. R. Elder; 1857, A. J. Schrader ; 1858-59 and 1861-63, James Sharp; 1860, J. E. Wonn; 1864-71 and 1875-76, E. R. Brown; 1872-73 and 1884, Eli Dennis; 1885, W. W. Kraft; 1886-93, G. R. Wachter ; 1894-95, J. H. Sharp : 1896-97, S. D. Hansley ; 1898-99, S. Fulton; 1900, J. V. Sharp; 1902, 1906-07, G. W. Johnston; 1903-04, E. V. Crampton; 1908, L. S. Sharp; 1909, H. T. Holland; 1910-II, B. F. Snyder.
CHURCHES
Methodist Episcopal-Membership 88; pas- tor, Rev. T. T. Buell. Bethel Reformed- Membership 80; pastor, Rev. M. Loncks, D. D. Lutheran-Membership 200; pastor, Rev. Amos Kohler. Catholic-Membership -; pastor, Father P. F. Rouane.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
Chickamauga Post, No. 583, G. A. R., was organized in 1889 with the following charter
members: J. H. Arney, James Foster, S. W. Solinberger, James Solinberger, William H. Elder, William Hamilton, Peter Daubenmyer, W. M. Rudolph, E. P. Jackson, J. S. Matheny, Daniel Snider, G. F. Hummel, S. Renshaw, J. W. Ricketts, Sam Byerley. Of these, J. H. Arney, the two Solinbergers, W. H. Elder, Peter Daubenmyer and J. W. Ricketts are still living, though not all members of this post at present.
The lodge of the Modern Brotherhood of America was organized July 3, 1911, with a charter membership of sixteen. The present membership is eighteen.
PHYSICIANS
The village and vicinity are served by two efficient physicians, Dr. C. H. Hamilton and Dr. F. O. Hunt.
Dr. C. H. Hamilton was born at Yellow Springs, Ohio, and was graduated from the high school there in 1901. He attended An- tioch College for three years-1901 to 1904, and was graduated from Starling (Ohio) Medical College in May, 1908. He served as interne at the Protestant Hospital at Colum- bus, O., from May, 1908 to May, 1909 and located at Sugar Grove, Ohio, May 4, 1909, where he has practiced his profession ever since. He was married July 29, 1911, to Miss Claire Miller, of Sugar Grove, O ..
Dr. F. O. Hunt was born in Sidney, Ia., in 1869 and graduated from Northwestern Med- ical College in 1891. He afterwards prac- ticed medicine in Toledo, Ohio, and was dem- onstrator of anatomy in the Toledo Medical College from 1894 to 1896. Dr. Hunt was married in 1892 to Miss Mary Lehman. To this union have been born four sons and two daughters. Dr. Hunt came to Sugar Grove in October, 1910, and has been enjoying a very successful practice since that time.
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BANK OF SUGAR GROVE
The Bank of Sugar Grove, with Mr. John R. Bowen as cashier, is a very prosperous in- stitution and adds much to the business con- venience of the village.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The records of the school show that Miss Anna Seidner taught for fourteen years; Miss Rebeckah Robinson taught the Primary De- partment six years. In the Grammar Depart- ment, Miss Mabel Mason taught two years and was succeeded by Clarence Hughes, who served one year, and E. L. Fauble, the present incumbent, now teaching his second year.
Mr. Charles T. Buell was the first principal of the High School, beginning in January, 1910, and serving until the present year, when he was succeeded by the present principal, E. C. Wilker.
The schools have an enrollment of 120, in- cluding the high school, which is a recognized high school of the second grade. The superin- tendents who have served the schools in tlie past are Bruce Rowe, William Walter, Mere- dith Kindler, Otis Garner, H. E. Kuhn and G. E. Wagner.
The present corps of teachers ( 1912) are : G. E. Wagner, superintendent of schools; E. C. Wilker, principal of high school; E. 1 .. Fauble, grammar school; Rita Rossman, in- termediate school; Catherine Bumgardner, primary department.
Berne postoffice is a station on the Cin- cinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad. It is situated in the northeast corner of the township and contains a store, two or three shops and about five or six houses.
Cranfis Collegiate Institute, which is also called Berne Township High School, is sit- uated in Berne Township and is described in Chapter X1V.
BLOOM TOWNSHIP
Bloom township is in the western tier of townships. It is bounded on the north by Violet, on the east by Greenfield, on the south by Amanda and on the west by Pick- away County. It is laid out regularly six sections each direction. There are no large streams in this township, though the Hocking river rises near the center of the township. The Hocking Valley crosses this township across Section I, in the extreme northeastern part, there are four good pikes running in nearly every direction. The Scioto Valley Traction line and the Ohio Canal pass through sections one and two.
The township was laid off in 1805; the early settlers were the Hushors, Meyers, Glicks, Clarks, Hoys, Courtrights, Scotts, Crites, Williamsons and others. Abraham Van Courtright came from Pennsylvania in 1801. He married Miss McFarland of Green- field Township and settled two miles south of Lockville near the Betzer Church. Jesse D. Courtright laid out Greencastle in 1810 and had it surveyed by John Hamilton. Samuel Weisser came from Pennsylvania in 1818 and kept a blacksmith shop for forty years. He was justice of the peace for thirty-five years and an official member of the church fifty years.
The Presbyterian Church was built in 1861. Names that are connected with this church are Abraham, John and Jacob Courtright, J. A. Whitzel, Samuel Weiner, H. R. Roller, L. C. Friebley, William Swayer. The present (1912) pastor is B. F. Munson who also serves the church at Lithopolis.
The Rock Mill was built in 1799 and was the first of its kind in the township. The building was low down among the rocks and the grists were taken in at the gable window
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and let down to the hopper with ropes. The which this church is built, commands one of first still-house was at the Stump Spring and the most picturesque views to be seen in the was owned by J. D. Courtright. The Als- . county. From this point with the naked eye can be seen fields and streams, valley, hill, and woodland until Newark and the hills of Gran- ville skirt the horizon twenty miles away. The country is gently undulating and very fertile.
paughs, Williamsons, Granels, Blenbaughs all have left large numbers of descendants in Bloom township. Among prominent farmers today we note the names of A. V. Courtright, Reuben Faler, W. R. Coffman, C. C. Crist, S. P. Mathias, William Sitterly, C. E. Berry, Austin Smith, J. C. Hummell, Ed. M. Heister, Albert Runkle, Peter Dotson, Frank Zwayer, Irwin Solt.
LITHOPOLIS
Lithopolis is the principal town in Bloom township. It has about 500 inhabitants. It was laid out in 1815 by Frederick Baugher. It was first called Centerville, but in 1836 it was chartered and called Lithopolis. Elias Perry was the first mayor and Isaac Cade the first clerk.
One of the early settlers was Dr. E. L. Miner. He first removed to Royalton in 1820 and to Centerville (afterwards Lithopolis) and there spent forty-five years of his pro- fessional life.
Dr. Miner, with George Custer, Mr. Brown and a dozen others, founded the Presbyterian Church in 1834. Rev. Leonard was the first pastor, succeeded by Rev. S. M. Wilson. Rev. B. F. Munson is the present pastor. The Methodist and Lutheran churches were built about 1840. Rev. B. F. Jackson is pastor of the Methodist Church and Rev. C. A. Rhiel, pastor of the Lutheran Church.
The old Betzer Church, two miles south of Lockville, has had an interesting history. It is one of the oldest churches in the township, is union in character, having been German Re- formed, Lutheran and Presbyterian. It was built of hewed log in 1809. The present build- ing was built in 1882. The Fellers Hill, upon
Lithopolis has the following business houses: E. E. Mason's general store, Weiser & Lisle, hardware: William Kiser, grocery; Geo. W. Coffman, grocery; Geo. W. Zang- meister, Charles Fiskhorn, G. W. Lehman and John Klamfathı, blacksmith shop; Thaddeus Wade, barber shop; Joseph Benner, shoe shop, L. S. Bennett, drug and book store.
Dr. Geo. M. Courtright, Dr. E. B. Roller and Dr. J. A. Kershner are physicians now at Lithiopolis. The Masonic Lodge, chartered in 1848, has a flourishing lodge. There are also lodges of the Eastern Star and Modern Brotherhood of America. There are thir- teen school districts in the county and the fol- lowing are the teachers: Lithopolis High School, Jesse Kinner, superintendent; Mrs. Jesse Kinner, principal ; Grace M. Souders, in- termediate; Rose B. Dutton, primary. The district schools are taught by Dan Cohayent, .A. J. Kiger, Carl P. Zangmeister, Vernon Cormany, Arlie Foos, J. E. Croff. Walter R. Peer, Maggie Laney, H. C. Smith, Bud Thush, Ralph Harris and Goldie Hickle.
In Lithiopolis there are four churches all supplied with pastors except the Nazarene ; outside of Lithopolis there are six churches- Presbyterian of Green Castle with Rev. B. F. Munson, pastor; United Brethren, Salem, Rev. Wright, pastor; Reform Church, Rev. Heffley : Bloom Chapel, Rev. Rulman; Wes- ley Chapel on the Royalton circuit with Rev. Cunningham as pastor; and Betzer Church.
The village officers of Lithopolis are :
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Mayor, John Farrand; clerk, William Wilder- as townships, leaving Clear Creek a township muth; treasurer, E. S. Bennett; councilmen, of 36 sections. The principal streams are Sanford Foor, G. W. Lehman, Geo. Zang- Salt Creek, which enters the township at the northwest and flows southeasterly: Sippo Creek, which flows south through the western sections; Dunkle Run, which rises in Section 5, flows east into Clear Creek, and which is a stream of some size which flows through the northeastern sections of the county, and from which the township is named. The surface of the township is undulating, growing hilly to the north; the soil is fertile and the farms small and well cultivated. meister, A. E. Stephenson, C. E. Williams; Board of Education, Peter Dotson, A. I. Crumley, Thurman Lisle, Thaddeus Wade and W. D. Cassidy. The township officers of Bloom township are: Trustees, Thomas Roller, W. R. Coffman, Isaac G. Hay; board of edu- cation-T. H. Courtright, president; M. M. Barnhart, Geo. W. Calvert, J. L. Moore, F. J. Boving; C. W. Wiser is township treasurer; and George R. Wiser, township clerk. J. E. Cross and Emerson Foor are justices of the peace and T. E. Markwood, constable.
GREENCASTLE
Greencastle is a small village laid out in 1810 at the center of the township. Jefferson, in the northern part of the township, was laid out in 1812 and was on the military road from Wheeling to the lakes-and in an early day was a village of some importance. C. W. Wiser conducts a general store.
LOCKVILLE
Lockville was laid out in the extreme north- ern part of Bloom Township shortly after the building of the Ohio Canal. It was named from the number of locks at this place. It was of some importance when the canal was used as a thoroughfare but now is a collection of houses only.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP
Clear Creek Township constitutes the ex- treme southwest of Fairfield County. It is bounded on the north by Amanda Township, on the east by Madison and on the south and west by Pickaway County. Clear Creek for- merly embraced parts of Madison and Amanda Townships but they were organized
The history of Clear Creek Township be- gins with the settlement of Jacob Shumaker in 1797. George Stout came from Bucks County, Penn., and settled one mile north of Stoutsville in 1804. George Dellsaver, Adam Fossnaught, John Leist, Benjamin Stout, Charles Friend, Peter Wolf, John Mooney, and John Stepleton all came to Clear Creek Township before 1810. John Leist was a member of the Legislature eight years, and a commissioner to adjust damages from con- structing canals for 22 years. He was at De- troit and Ft. Meigs, served under Gen. Harri- son, and voted for ten presidents as a member of the Old Whig party.
The settlers of Clear Creek Township did their trading at Zanesville and when they needed salt, nails and many other necessities they were compelled to drive there a distance of 50 miles-and a week's time was taken go- ing and coming.
There are six churches in the township St. John's Evangelical, Rev. E. A. Torrey, pastor ; Reformed, Rev. E. E. Zecheil, pastor ; Luth- eran, Rev. Shoffer, pastor-all located at Stoutsville: Brethren at Sixteen, with Rev. Belshure, pastor ; Methodist at Oakland, John H. Redmon, pastor, and Lutheran, at Dutch Hollow, with Rev. Ditamore as pastor. This
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last church was the first organized in the town- ship and Jacob Leist was the preacher.
STOUTSVILLE
Stoutsville is a village of about 300 popu- lation, situated west of the center of the township. It was laid out in 1854 by Ben- jamin Stout.
The Fairfield-Pickaway News, of Stouts- ville, O., was founded by H. O. Hardin, Au- gust 25, 1888. It is an eight-page paper. It has never changed hands, and is in a home of its own. The circulation is 600, subscriptions paid in advance. It is non-political, but inde- pendent in politics.
The township officers of Clear Creek Town- ship are: Township trustees-John Groves, Frank Hedges, Nicholas Fossnaugh. Town- ship clerk-C. O. Barr. Township superin- tendent of schools-C. E. Valentine.
The doctors are G. P. Huddle and C. A. Kefauer.
The Farmers and Citizens Bank of Stouts- ville enjoys the patronage and confidence of the people. Its president is E. V. Barr and cashier W. A. Myers.
GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP
Greenfield township is bounded on the north by Liberty, on the east by Pleasant, on the south by Hocking, and on the west by Bloom. Its surface is level and it was settled early, as its green fields attracted the settlers who had come to New Lan- caster, as Lancaster was first called.
Settlements were made as early as 1798 and in 1799 numerous families had settled on the Hockhocking, in the Claypool neigh- borhood, then called Yankeetown. Among the early settlers we find the names of Isaac Meason, Capt. Joseph Steward, William
McFarland, Ralph Bright, Jacob Dumont, Henry Abrams, John Bailar, Adam and John Westenberger, John McArthur, John Morgan, and Alexander Sanderson. Capt. Joseph Steward settled in 1799 on the Co- lumbus pike, two miles south of Lancaster. His son, Levi Steward, was born in 1800 and was the first white child born in the township. James Wells settled on the pres- ent Hooker land in 1799. Alexander San- derson came in 1798. The first school was erected in 1802 on the Shuff farm and was taught by Mr. May.
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