History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 79

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 79

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AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The early records of this church organization have been mislaid or lost, consequently an accurate account of its early history cannot be given. The first ascertained Methodist among this people in Mt. Vernon was James A. Ralls, a local preacher, who came here from Virginia in December, 1865.

There were quite a number of colored people here prior to the coming of Mr. Ralls, but they had been connected with the churches in and around their old homes long before they immigrated to Mt. Vernon, and retained their religious belief until they united and formed this church.

The meeting, preliminary to the organization, was held in the basement room of the East Vine Street Christian church, the Rev. John Beatty, of Zanesville, officiating. The date of this meeting was about 1870. After an appropriate prayer by James A. Ralls, local preacher, the subject of church organization was introduced. A constitu- tion was signed by all present who were willing to aid the organization, among whom were Riley Jenkins and wife, James A. Ralls, Clara Ralls, John W. Ralls and wife, J. W. Hackley and wife, Charles White, Mary Lewis, Titus Hill, Everett Giles, Jonathan P. Simmons, M. W. Balar, Perry Wilson, Milton Newman, Samuel Simmons, and others. From that time to about 1873 weekly meetings were held in private residences, the basement rooms of the Christian and the United Presbyterian churches, and a room in the third story of the Kremlin block. In 1873 or 1874 arrange- ments were perfected to erect a church building. The ground was purchased, and the walls of the house raised to the square when the funds gave out, and the building was left in that unfinished condition until 1876, when, by the liberality of the citizens, sufficient money was raised to finish the building.

From the time of organization'to the present

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

the following pastors have had charge of this con- gregation: Reverends Jones, John Gassaway, Jesse Henderson, Thomas, Daniel Mason, Walter Lowry, William Davidson, Charles White, and Jesse Henderson, the present pastor. For a few years the members sustained a resident pastor, having service every Sunday. At present the churches at Newark and Mt. Vernon are one charge under the pastorate of Rev. Henderson, services being held every alternate Sabbath. This church held camp-meetings on the fair grounds in

1879 and 1880, which were largely attended by members from the neighboring cities, the bishop of Baltimore superintending. The church num- bers forty members, and the services on the Sabbath are kept up with great regularity and in- terest.

Stewards for 1881 : L. R. Jenkins, M. W. Balar, J. P. Simmonds, John Wright, J. W. Hackley, Jackson Tate, A. Gibson and Charles White.

This church established, and yet maintains a Sunday-school.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS.

CHAPTER XLIV. BERLIN TOWNSHIP.

NAME AND ORGANIZATION-FIRST ELECTION-TOPOGRAPHY PRIMITIVE CONDITION-MOUND BUILDERS-INDIANS - FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-THE MARKLEYS-A. H. ROYCE-THE LEEDYS-RICHARD ROBERTS-"CELES- TIAL LIGHT"-THE OLD HARTER TAVERN-SHALER'S MILL-OTHER MILLS-PALMYRA-ANKENYTOWN -- SCHOOL- HOUSES AND TEACHERS-CHURCHES-POPULATION-JUS- TICES OF THE PEACE.

The hills Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun; the vales

Stretching in pensive quietness between; The venerable woods; rivers that move In majesty, and the complaining brooks That make the meadows green;

Are decorations all

Of the great tomb of man- -W. C. BRYANT.

BERLIN township derived its name from Berlin, Connecticut, the name being proposed by Stephen Cole. It was created June 4, 1822, as stated on the journal of the commissioners in the following extract:

Ordered, That the following boundaries be laid out into a separate and distinct township, to-wit : Beginning at the south- west corner of the eighth township in the thirteenth range, thence north on the township line to the old boundary line; thence on said boundary line to where the nearest north and south line in the new purchase strikes said boundary line; thence north on said north and south line to the county line between Knox and Richland counties; thence east on said line one-half mile further than where the line between the twelfth and thir- teenth ranges strikes said county line; thence due south one-half mile east of said range line to the south boundary of the eighth township in the twelfth range; thence west on said township line to the southwest corner of the same; thence north to the south- east corner of the eighth township in the thirteenth range; thence west on said township line to the place of beginning, which shall be known by the name of Berlin township, which shall be

entitled to all the privileges of a separate and distinct township as aforesaid.

An election was ordered to be held at the house of Michael Harter on the twenty-second day of June, 1822, for the purpose of electing township officers.

Berlin township was reduced to its present limits March 9, 1825 :

Berlin shall be composed of the eighth township of the thir- teenth range, except the sixth and seventh sections in said town- ship eighteen.

It first belonged to Wayne, but was afterward included in the territory of Pike, before receiving an independent existence. Its northern boundary line joins Richland county ; it is the most northern of the second tier of townships from the west line of the county-the tier in which Mt. Vernon islocated.

The Greenville treaty line, located by General Wayne at the close of the Indian war in 1795, passes across the northern part of this township, running a little south of west, about a mile north of Ankenytown. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad passes diagonally across it from northeast to south- west. It is sufficiently watered by the east branch of the East fork of Owl creek; this stream passes diagonally across the township in the same general direction as the railroad. The tributaries of this stream drain the larger part of its surface. The west branch of Schenck's creek, a tributary of the Kokosing, rises in the northwest corner of the town- ship, and numerous and beautiful springs are to be found in various parts.

Originally it was covered with a dense forest of hard wood of every description. This fact speaks volumes for the quality of the land; wherever the

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

soil was covered with black walnut, sugar, beech, hickory, etc., the pioneer well knew the soil could not be surpassed for agricultural purposes. When the first white settlers made their appearance there was not probably a spot of ground in the township large enough to erect a cabin without first clearing away the trees and underbrush. It was a paradise for the wild animal and the wild hunter.

The Mound Builders left traces of their occupa- tion, and it is almost startling to think that in the centuries gone by a civilization existed here that might have compared favorably with the present one; that, probably, the land was cleared and cul- tivated as it is to-day. The number of mounds and ancient earthworks that existed in this town- ship will never be known; no doubt the ravages of time have destroyed hundreds of them, and only those remain that were exceptionally large, or that occupied positions exceptionally favorable for pres- ervation. One of these elevations was known to exist on what is known as the Ellis Willet place, near the Quaker meeting-house. It was not large, being, perhaps, thirty or forty feet in diameter at the base, and eight or ten feet in height. It stood exactly upon the spot Mr. Willet had selected for his house, and hence was destroyed. The cellar was dug directly under the mound; human bones were found, some articles resembling cooking uten- sils, or supposed to have been used for that pur- pose; charcoal, evidences of fire, etc .; these are usually found in all the ancient mounds that receive a thorough examination. Thus it is that the abode of one civilization is reared upon the tomb of an- other, and-

All that tread The globe are but a handful to the tribes That slumber it its bosom."

A mound, larger than the ordinary size, is locat- ed on the Davis farm, in the southern part of the township. It is, probably, fifty or sixty feet in diameter at the base and fifteen feet in height. Like the others it is made up of sandy loam, and situated on high ground. These mounds are evi- dently connected with the one that stood on the present site of Fredericktown, and with several others in Morris township. Were the timber cleared away these mysterious elevations would all ap- pear in sight of each other, or at least in such con-

nection that signaling from one to the other would be comparatively easy.

Whether the Mound Builders were the first ani- mals in human form to tread the soil of Berlin township can only be conjectured. It has been established by indisputable evidence that they were here more than seven hundred years ago, and were the pioneer settlers here so far as history traces the inhabitants.

It does not appear that the next inhabitants of this township, the Indians, had any permanent resi- dence within its limits; they used it, however, as a hunting ground, roaming freely through its silent woods for centuries before they were disturbed and driven away by the white savage. When the first settlers came they found the territory occupied by stray squads of hunters from the Greentown and Jerometown Indians, and the Delawares and Wyan- dots. An old Indian named Toby is remembered by the early settlers. He established his wigwam on what has since been known as "Toby's Run," where he lived and hunted until about the time of the War of 1812, when he disappeared.

The third race to occupy this territory began coming about 1808, or before. Bedford county, Pennsylvania, probably has the honor of sending Berlin its first settlers; these were the Markleys. Henry Markley came in 1808, and erected the first cabin in the township, upon the farm now owned by James McIntire. Markley was accom- panied by John Brown, sr. Mr. Markley pur- chased one thousand acres of land, lying on the north side of what was known as the Ellicott section ; this section occupying one-fourth of the township, or four thousand acres. His family consisted of his wife, three sons and two daughters, viz: Henry Markley, jr., John, James, Mary and Amelia; all are now dead. John Brown's family consisted of wife, three sons, John, Jeremiah and Thomas, and a daughter, who married John Pinkley. None of these are now living.

Amos H. Royce, the first justice of the peace in this township, came to Fredericktown in 1809, and settled in this township in 1810. He was born in 1786, in Connecticut, removed with his father to New York State, and from there to this county. This remarkable pioneer is yet living in Freder- icktown at the age of ninety-four, and is yet in full

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

possession of his mental faculties and enjoying good health, with a fair prospect of completing, at least a century on earth. His father was a Revolu- tionary soldier, and for this service obtained a land warrant for lands located in this township, upon which Amos H. settled with a family of ten chil- dren, viz: Norton D., Mary, Emeline, Sally, Louisa M., Julia Ann, Alfred, Laura, Lucy and Jane A. Those now living are Emeline, Julia Ann, Laura and Jane A. Amos H. Royce was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving on the fron- tier and with General Hull for a short time, and for this service draws a pension. He was one of the soldiers surrendered by Hull. He assisted in building a block-house at Mansfield and one at Trucksville, and was stationed at New Haven, or rather encamped on the site of that village, at the time of the Copus murder, and was one of a squad of soldiers that followed that same band of Indians a short distance just prior to the massacre, they having encamped the night before the murder near the site of New Haven.

The Leedys were an important and influential family among the pioneers of this township. There were five brothers : John, Jacob, Abraham, Samuel and Daniel. Some of these settled further north in Richland county, in the vicinity of Bellville. Many of their descendants are yet living in Rich- land and Knox. The Leedys trace their ancestry back to Switzerland; in this country they first set- tled in Maryland, and moved thence to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, before coming to Ohio.

Among the earliest settlers in this township be- side those mentioned, were Stephen Cole, Ed. and Isaac N. Richardson, George Wolford; James Fraer, John C. Brown, John and Peter Kreigher, Frederick Ogg, Jeremiah Brown, Richard and Israel Roberts, John Long, Joseph Lane, Daniel and Joseph Hetrick, the Joslyns, John Moltzbaugh, the Wrights, Farquhars, Pinkleys, William Van Horne, Peter Wolf, David McDaniel, Michael Harter, John Lewis, Casper Fitting, and perhaps others.

E. Richardson moved to the West, but his brother became a judge, and was an influential man in the county. The descendants of the Kreighers and Robertses are, some of them, yet living on the old places, where their fathers settled

in 1808 or 1809. John Long was a relative by marriage of the Leedys; one of his family is now a resident of Pike township. Joseph Lane came from Connecticut, and married the daughter of Stephen Cole; he was a cabinetmaker. Daniel Hetrick and his brother came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania; the former married a Leedy and raised a large family, some of whom are yet living in this neighborhood. John Moltzbaugh came about 1815; he was a Dunkard preacher, and with the help of the Leedys organized a Dunkard church. Stephen Cole came from Connecticut, settling here about 1816, and becoming an influential man among the pioneers. His family consisted of Ste- phen, jr., Wilbur, Henry, Russel (now living in Chicago) and two daughters. Wilbur now occu- pies the old homestead.

Richard Roberts, an old resident of this town- ship, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in July, 1789, and removed to Ohio, with his father, Henry Roberts, in 1805, and stopped in Belmont county one year. In 1806 he pitched his tent and built a cabin on the farm now owned by Nicholas Darling, in Morris township. In 1819 he built a cabin on the farm in Berlin township, on which he died, August 24, 1877, at the age of eighty-eight years, making him fifty-eight years a resident of Berlin, and a resident of the State seventy-two years. He married a daughter of John Garrison, an early settler, in the vicinity of Palmyra. His family consisted of nine daughters and one son-a family of intelligence and high respecta- bility. Of the members of this family Mrs. Louisa Cohen, a widow lady, is now a resident of Mt. Vernon; Rebecca married Gideon Elliott, and died some years ago; Mrs. Hubbell, some years after the death of his wife, married Ellen, a sister of his deceased wife; Phœbe married C. G. Mount, and resides in Fredericktown, a widow; Martha died in childhood; Elizabeth, wife of Milton B. Williams, of Berlin; Mary, wife of Cory B. Chancey, and Emily, the wife of W. B. Rowley, of Frederick- town. Burr resides on the homestead.

Uncle Richard, as he was familiarly called, was of a very social disposition-a great talker-and delighted in talking over the scenes of early times. The cabin, the big log fire, and the winter evening were the necessary surroundings for Uncle Richard

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

to tell the younger ones of his hunting exploits, when Ohio was a three-year-old.

Celestial Le Blond, a Frenchman, was also among the early settlers in this township. His name is entered on pool-book as "Celestiai Light;" he was a little eccentric and quite conspicuous. He was the originator of Shaler's mill, but was un- successful; he afterwards removed to Bellville, where he died. The family subsequently moved west, and a son, Francis C., became a member of Congress from one of the western districts of Ohio.

One of the early and prominent settlers was Michael Harter, a brother-in-law of Henry Mark- ley, who came about 1808, and settled upon land now owned by the Farquhar heirs. Harter erected a log house on the crossing of the two roads lead- ing from Mt. Vernon to Mansfield, and from Co- lumbus to Wooster. "Harter's tavern" became a prominent place. The first and many subsequent elections were held here, and the militia musters of those early days. It was said to be the best tavern then in northern Ohio. The old people were kind and hospitable, and the society of the amiable Miss Christiana made it an uncommonly interesting place for sleighing and other parties. The fame of "Aunt" Katie's cooking spread far and wide, and caused weary, mud-bespattered trav- ellers to ride many long miles after nightfall to get there. Harter planted the first orchard in Knox county, and now lies buried in the midst of it, on the hill east of the old tavern stand. He brought the trees from a nursery then called a plantation, down on the Muskingum river. Harter's brother- in-law, Markley, had been a merchant, and was a quick, sprightly business man, and hence was se- lected as one of the first commissioners of the county. He was generous and well liked by the people. The road upon which stood Harter's tavern became a great thoroughfare, over which the great four- and six-horse freight wagons rolled, carrying the produce of the rich counties of Knox and Licking to the market at the lake. The early stages and mail carriers also passed over this road many years. The tavern was built about 1813 or 1814; subsequently a brick addition was built. Mr. Harter died here, and his widow sold out and moved to Canton, where some of the descendants yet reside. One of the same family is now presi-

dent of the Peerless Reaper company, at Canton; another a director in three of the banks there; an- other the prosecuting attorney of Stark county, and a fourth is the treasurer of the Aultman & Taylor company, at Mansfield.

Jacob Switzer was probably the next owner of this tavern stand; but after the Sandusky, Mans- field & Newark railroad was built, it went down gradually until it was no longer a paying institu- tion. Switzer sold to a man from the West Indies by the naine of John Bassett. Warner Miller, long a resident of Mt. Vernon, and now living in New- ark, held a mortgage on it and became its owner. It is now a brick dwelling house, and is owned by a Mr. Gilmore.

What has for many years been known as "Shaler's mill," a half-mile east of the present village of Ankenytown, was among the first mills erected in the township, and the first post office was estab- lished here, the first postmaster being Mr. J. M. Robinson. This was about 1844. Mr. H. W. Greegor succeeded Mr. Robinson, about 1848, and has retained the office ever since. It was called Shaler's Mills post office, and yet retains that name, though Mr. Greegor has kept it for many years in his store at Ankenytown.

In 1849, a post office was established at the resi- dence of Richard Roberts, called "Maple Grove," - and he was appointed postmaster, continuing as such until 1860, when the office was discontinued at his request.

As before mentioned Shaler's mill was established by Celestial Le Blond, about 1815, or perhaps later. He undertook more than he was able to perform, being without practical experience in mill building, and after erecting a saw-mill, and doing, perhaps, some preliminary work on the grist-mill, he sold out to a Mr. Brollier, who erected the first grist-mill. Brollier sold out to Mr. Shaler about 1840, the latter running the mill many years. It is yet in operation, being owned by Mr. William Toms.

Amos H. Royce erected one of the first saw- mills, on the present site of Ankenytown, on Isaac's run. He purchased two acres, containing the mill seat of Mr. William Shultz, an early settler from Pennsylvania, and after running the mill a few years, sold out to Snyder & Grove, who erected a

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

grist-mill, which they conducted several years. This mill went down several years ago. Isaac's run no longer furnishes the amount of mill power that it once did. Two or three other saw-mills were erected in an early day upon this same stream, above that of Mr.Royce. David McDaniel built one and Moses Faulkner another. These have long since disappeared. Several saw-mills were also erected on the main fork above Shaler's mill, but none now exist. Saw-mills are no longer erected; timber is getting too scarce; farmers now buy the larger part of the lumber they use, at the city lumber yards. Messrs. Strong & Son's mill was erected on the east branch of Owl creek in the southern part of this township near Fredericktown. The first mill here may have been built as early as 1825. Strong subsequently erected an expensive and excellent mill, and did a large business for some years. It passed into other hands a few years ago, and was destroyed by fire.

Palmyra, for many years, was the only town in the township. It was laid out November 17, 1835. Prior to this date a tavern had been erected there, which for many years was a noted stopping place for stages and wagons, voyaging by mud or snow from Fredericktown to Mansfield. A post office was established there; this with the tavern and a little grocery constituted the business; and a few dwellings added made up the town. The rail- road came through and extinguished what little life it had, by monopolizing the carrying trade; nothing is left of it but a few dwellings and a church.

The land upon which Ankenytown stands was first owned by Aaron Bull, a Revolutionary soldier, who, for services in that war, received the land war- rand which placed him in possession of land, then in the wilderness, but now highly cultivated and very valuable. One of the earliest settlers here was Sylvester Clark, who married the daughter of this soldier, and came here to occupy the wild lands of his father-in-law. There are many owners of this property at present. Mr. Shultz, before mentioned, early purchased some of this land of Clark, and Mr. Royce purchased two acres of it for a mill seat. Abraham Leedy was also one of the first purchasers of ground upon which the town stands. The mill, before mentioned, was probably the germ of the present town. When the railroad

came through, Warner Miller, of Mt. Vernon, erected a warehouse, and also established a store, putting Mr. H. W. Greegor in charge of both. George Ankeny came here from Pennsylvania about this time, purchased a small piece of land from Abraham Leedy, and built a blacksmith shop in the town. He was a very excellent and influential man, and the town came to be called by his name. He was a blacksmith, a justice of the peace and finally a member of the legislature. Mr. Brollier, who owned Shaler's mill, started the first store here about 1840, and kept it three or four years, but failed to make the business pay. J. M. Robinson was the next store keeper, and H. W. Greegor took charge of it about 1851, and has kept it ever since.

The place sometimes went by the name of "Squeal," from the fact, it is said, that when the iron horse first made its appearance, his "squeal'' so alarmed the natives that they turned out armed cap-a-pie with guns and blunderbusses to capture him, though this account is probably somewhat ex- aggerated. The iron horse, however, ran over and killed some stock belonging to some of the farmers, which so incensed them, that, fearing this might be of frequent occurrence, they banded together and tore up the track, which brought on a lawsuit, the history of which appears on the records of the com- mon pleas court at Mt. Vernon.

The first school-house, probably, in the township was erected on the site of Ankenytown, on a lot directly opposite Mr. Greegor's store. John Lewis, a son of Governor Lewis, taught here. The build- ing was a hewed log, and was afterward used as a dwelling. The next school-house was probably that built upon land donated by Abraham Leedy. Ankenytown now contains one store, a few shops and a dozen or more dwellings. Mr. Greegor has kept the store about thirty years, during which time he has also been freight and express agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, serving without com- pensation. Ankenytown is at present the only vil- lage in the township. Shaler's mills once aspired to be a town, and obtained a store and post-office, but being unable to advance, realized the full mean- ing of qui non proficit, deficit.

But three churches have an existence within the limits of the township. The Dunkards were prob- ably the first religious denomination to sow the

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seeds of the gospel on the soil of Berlin. Their society was organized as early as 1815, by John Moltsbaugh and the Leedys, as before mentioned. Another pioneer family, the Hetricks, were also members of this society. It was the habit of this society in those early days, and part of their relig- ious creed, to feed the multitude; they therefore held services every two or three weeks, in the cabins of the members, and invited everybody to come, spreading a large table with all the good things the forest and soil produced. The members of the society and the older people sat down to this table, after which everybody present was invited to the repast. When the wants of the "inner man" were satisfied, and everybody in good humor, the preaching began; the people were then in good condition to receive the gospel and look favorably upon its teachings.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 79

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096