History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 92

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 92

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two millinery stores, Mrs. Mattie E. Updyke and Mrs. L. T. Barnes ; two livery stables, A. T. Borden and Peter Shaffer ; one undertaker, R. J. Pumph- rey ; three blacksmiths, Isaac Pierce, sr., Henry Cappell and Henry Bunnell ; one shoe shop, Geo. Peardon, proprietor ; one photograph gallery, E. M. Maynard, proprietor ; one marble shop, Dev- ereux Brothers, proprietors ; one tinshop, Jen- nings & Faraba, proprietors ; one carriage shop, R. J. Pumphrey, proprietor ; one tailor, Darling Barr ; two meatmarkets, Timothy Baker & Son and Willis Bedell, proprietors; one harnessmaker, P. D. Kasson ; three furniture stores, George Mc- Cracken, David Long and George McConchie, proprietors ; one agricultural depot, R. J. Pumph- rey, proprietor ; two lumber yards, Bishop & Raney and George W. Barnes, proprietors ; one imple- ment factory, Burkholder & Brentlinger, proprie- tors ; one paint shop, Burt & Beach ; one cooper, C. M. Tanner ; one greenhouse, L. B. Barnes, proprietor ; two barbers, Clinton Jones and Rufus Webster ; one cigarmaker, S. W. Lyons, and one saloon, J. Anweller, proprietor.

Centreburgh is not a regularly incorporated town, with full municipal powers, but was, in 1877, made an independent district, which gives it con- trol of its streets and highways.

E. B. Cook, J. W. Burton and R. B. Jackson are the trustees, and C. M. Jennings clerk and treas- urer. The town at present contains one hundred dwellings and four hundred and fifty inhabitants.

The pioneer publication of Hilliar township was the Universalist Advocate. It was a sixteen page semi-monthly magazine, devoted to the advocacy of universal salvation, and was printed in a build- ing on lot 45, in the village of Centreburgh. The following extract is from the first volume of this publication, issued September 26, 1848:

The Universalist Advocate will be published on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, on the following low terms: seventy-five cents per annum, paid in advance, one dol- lar if paid within the year. All communications intended for the Universalist Advocate must be address to Daniel Wolfe & Co., at Centreburgh, Knox county, Ohio. Free from postage.

The publication of the Advocate was discon- tinued about 1861.

The Centreburgh Mirror was a seven column four page independent newspaper, established in Cen- treburgh in 1878, but it was short-lived, and

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

expired in a few months. John S. Watson was ed- itor and proprietor.

The Centreburgh Gazette is the name of an in- dependent seven column four page newspaper published weekly at Centreburgh ; the first issue appeared January 6, 1881. It is devoted to the interests of Centreburgh and surrounding country. George E. Kalb is editor and proprietor.

Harvey Jones was the first postmaster of Centre- burgh. His successors were: Nimrod Bishop, Edward Gant, Chester Heldt, Smith Hadley, J. Scott, Enoch Nichols, Daniel Wolfe, Robert Woods, Enoch Nichols, Robert Jackson and Charles M. Jennings, the present incumbent.

The Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus rail- road enters Hilliar township at the northeast corner and passes out at the southwest corner, passing through Centreburgh. The first passen- ger train passed over this road September 1, 1874. The Ohio Central railroad also passes through Hilliar township, near the village of Rich Hill, and crosses the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus road at right angles near the town of Centreburgh. This road was completed in the month of Novem- ber, 1880.

The Dayton section came into market shortly after the organization of the township in 1818; the Parker section in 1831, but the opening of the Rathbone section to settlers was delayed till 1839; hence the development of the township was re- tarded, but notwithstanding this drawback Hilliar has made rapid improvements in growth and de- velopment.

In 1820 the population of Hilliar township was 60; in 1830, 200; in 1840, 1,012; in 1850, 1, 141 ; in 1860, -; in 1870, 931, and in 1880, 1, 101.

In 1880 the total number of acres under cultiva- tion 2,816; the same in pasture, II,O11; in wheat, 808; bushels of wheat, 12,844; acres in oats, 656; bushels of oats, 23,595; acres of corn, 1,778; bush- els of corn, 59,685; acres of potatoes, 51; bushels of potatoes, 5,071; acres of meadow, 1,886; tons of hay, 1,429; pounds of butter, 31,280; pounds of wool, 51,503; number of horses, 433-assessed value of same, $19,994; number of cattle, 1,008- assessed value of same, $14,784; number of sheep, 10,564-assessed value of same, $21,097; number of hogs, 1,008-assessed value of same, $2,075;

moneys and credits, $61,225; value of all personal property subject to taxation, $189,538.

CHAPTER LIV.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY-ORGANIZATION-STREAMS-TIMBER-EARLY SETTLERS-MILLS-DISTILLERIES-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES VILLAGES.

TACKSON township was organized out of Mor- P gan, September 4, 1815. It was named in honor of General Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans. Topographically, the surface is broken, and in the southern portion of the town- ship several large hills exist. The soil is product- ive and yields good crops of all the cereals. Val- uable springs of water abound, one especially on the farm of William Darling being unusually large, and the source of a considerable stream. Several streams of water traverse the township, the largest being the Wakatomica. It rises in Coshocton county, running west across the township near to the line of Clay, thence south in a meandering course passing out of the township into Licking county. Jug run rises near the centre of the township and runs southeast into Coshocton coun- ty. Iron ore of superior quality is found in the hills near to the Licking and Coshocton county lines, and in such quantities that it may be profit- able to mine it, although no one has yet attempt- ed it.

Every part of Jackson was once densely wooded, oak, sugar and chestnut being the principal varie- ties. Although much of this timber has been cleared away, yet the hills along the Wakatomica and elsewhere in the township exhibit a large growth of oak and chestnut.

In the early history of the country, the hills of Jackson township abounded with wild animals and venomous reptiles.

The early settlers killed large numbers of deer, bear and other animals. Though multitudes of reptiles have been killed in former years, still at this later period they are to be found. In Septem- ber, 1880, John Farquhar found a black-snake

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eleven feet in length, and after a desperate fight succeeded in killing it. Owing to the hills of Jackson township abounding with deer and other wild animals, it was a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, who came from the region about Greentown and Upper Sandusky in large numbers, often camping weeks at a time.

From the time of the first settlement to the present, large numbers of Indian relics have been found, farmers ploughing up great quantities of arrow points, wedges and other stone implements. The old Indian trail from Greentown through to Coshocton county passed across Jackson township. This trail the first settlers found very convenient for a guide when travelling. Evidences of ancient fortifications, are to be found, one especially, on the farm of Mrs I. Kerr, being the most remarka- ble. It is a wide trench encircling a small hill on which her present residence is situated. It extended completely around the hill, and was of such width as to make it quite formidable to the foe. Early settlers found it very plainly indicated, but frequent plowing has almost obliterated it. One or two small mounds are to be found in the northern part of the township.

Robert Eaton is supposed to be the first white settler of Jackson. He came from Wheeling, West Virginia, in April, 1810, locating on section seven. He was one of the soldiers that helped to suppress the whiskey rebellion, and it is said, had seen Gen- eral George Washington several times. After liv- ing many years in Jackson he emigrated to the west. Although Eaton had many opportunities of becoming rich, he did not succeed in amassing much wealth, being content to live on a small income.

David Meelick, the second settler, came to the township in August, 1810, settling on section seven. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government at two dollars per acre. He was one of the first two justices of the peace elected after the organization of Jackson township, and served in that capacity several years. At the time of his coming, Jackson township was indeed a wilderness. The surface of the entire country was covered with a dense growth of hard wood timber ; the woods swarmed with game, and he had no diffi- culty in procuring ample supplies for the family

larder. Being somewhat of a Nimrod, he succeed- ed in killing hundreds of deer, turkeys and other wild game. With the exception of Robert Eaton, the Indians were his only neighbors for some time after his arrival. It was his belief that the hills in the southern part of the township would remain an unbroken wilderness to all generations, but he lived to see them thickly settled. His descendants are still numerous in the township.

Andrew McCamment was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He emigrated to Jackson township in 1819, selecting land in section nine- teen. He was married August 19, 1816, to Re- becca Strain, of Brooke county, Virginia, by whom he had eight children : John S., Mary, William, Alexander, James, Sevenah, Hannah Jane, and Thomas Jefferson. Mr. McCamment died Decem- ber 14, 1864, after a long life of industry and use- fulness.

George Holtz was from Belmont county, where he was born in March, 1800. He removed to Coshocton county about the close of the last war with England, and to Jackson township in 1830. He entered eighty acres of Government land lying in the southern part of the township, and in a few years he purchased eighty acres more from the Government. He married Susan Mavisin in 1825, who bore him nine children.

Samuel Davidson was born near Baltimore, Maryland, November 4, 1788, and came to Jack- son township in 1830, where he resided until his death August 8, 1880. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was in the battle of Bladens- burgh.

William Hall was another of the early settlers of Jackson. He was born in Pennsylvania, and in 1809, when thirteen years of age, with his father, Obediah Hall, removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, remaining there until 1814, when he came to Jack- son township. He settled in the southern part of the township. His family consisted of his wife and ten children, viz: Washington, Columbus, Jerome, Angenola, Benjamin F., Ruth M., Acci- ous, Lane, Albert Fremont, and Abraham Lincoln.

Washington Houck, although not one of the first settlers, is one of Jackson's most prominent citizens, and has long been identified with its history. He was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

February 18, 1799. He visited Ohio in 1821, with one dollar and fifty cents in his pocket, walk- ing the entire distance from Pennsylvania, return- ing home in November. Soon after, he sold his household and other goods, settled up all his ac- counts, and having but eight dollars, started for Ohio on the fourth of February, 1822. He landed in Hilliar township the twenty-fourth of that month, and resided there until the twentieth of July, when he removed to Clay, where he pur- chased eighty acres of Government land at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. After pay- ing for his land, he had eighteen cents remain- ing but possessing extraordinary energy and perseverance he soon cleared his land, and has secured, a competence. At that date the grow- ing of tobacco was the principal occupation of the farmers of Jackson and the southern townships of Knox county. Mr. Houck was once gone eleven days in two weeks, to tobacco house raisings. While in Hilliar township, he purchased a cow and yoke of oxen, and brought them to Clay. They got out of the enclosure, and after a search of ten days, he found them at their old home in Hilliar. He found but four houses in twenty-five miles travelling through the forests, but the few settlers that he did find were very clever and glad to see any one in their secluded homes. He subse- quently sold his farm in Clay, and purchased some land on the site of the village of Bladensburgh, in Jackson township, where he erected a dwelling house, and also a hotel, engaging in that business several years. He also engaged in the mercantile business many years. He still resides in Bladens- burgh.

John Donahey entered eighty acres on section twenty-six in 1810. He came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was born June 27, 1799. He was probably the first settler who lo- cated land in the southern part of the township. His neighbors were the Indians, and the hills sur- rounding his habitation were full of wild animals and venomous serpents. He, like the other pio- neers, killed large numbers of deer, bear, and tur- keys. At that early date log-rollings and house- raisings were frequent, and Mr. Donahey spent much of his time assisting his neighbors in clear- ing their land and erecting their habitations. The

work was often severe, owing to the scarcity of hands, but the festivities of the evening, after the conclusion of the day's toil, afforded ample recom- pense. He was married at an early age to Martha Rogers. They had nine children; five sons and four daughters. He died in Jackson township in 1873.

Peter Fry, who lived to be a centenarian, came to Jackson at an early period of its history. He was at St. Clair's defeat, and was forty years old at that time. He remembered many of the impor- tant events that transpired during the exciting pe- riod of the Revolution, and had often seen Gen- eral Washington. He settled on section seven, but did not succeed in acquiring much property.

Thomas Nichols, still living in his eighty-eighth year, arrived from Virginia in 1828, and purchased his land from the Government. He settled in the southern part of Jackson, and still lives on the farm on which he first settled. Several of his children are still living in the township, in prosper- ous circumstances. For several years after first settling in Jackson he was troubled by wolves vis- iting his flocks of sheep at night and carrying away the choicest.

William Hanna, another of the early settlers, and long a resident of the township, died in 1856.

Jacob Stricker, Adam Earlywine, Robert Wilson, Joseph Scott, Daniel Massholder, Daniel Blue, Peter Miller, Christian Baughman, James Harris, John Wheeler, Elijah Harris, William Braddock, and Daniel Stricker, arrived at an early date, and a majority of them became prosperous.

William Darling, who came from Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1820, to Butler township, and from Butler to Jackson in 1835, has long been an influential citizen. He has served as justice of the peace fifteen years, and held other important local offices.

Johnny Appleseed was frequently a visitor in this township. One of his largest nurseries in Coshoc- ton county being near this locality, he found a mar- ket for his apple-trees in Jackson. Many of the first orchards were started from trees procured from his nursery, and there are still trees remaining in several orchards that originally came from his Co- shocton nursery.

A terrific tornado visited Jackson in early times,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

the exact date being not now remembered. There were but few settlers in the township then, and the damage done to dwelling houses and orchards was comparatively light, but many forest trees were prostrated, and cattle, horses and sheep killed.

The first grist-mill was erected by Samuel Wheeler about the year 1816, and the first saw- mill by S. Brown about 1818. These mills were busily employed to meet the demands of the in- creasing population, both for flour and meal for the sustenance of the settlers, and lumber for their dwellings.

Samuel D. Ross built the first carding-mill in 1818. Prior to the building of these mills, the in- habitants were compelled to go to Mt. Vernon or Zanesville for their meal and lumber.

There are two or three small iron bridges that span the Wakatomica, and several wooden bridges spanning that stream and Jug run in the township, but no large bridges have been erected.

Until after the establishment of Bladensburgh in 1833, there were no stores in the township, and the settlers were obliged to go to Coshocton, Mt. Ver- non, Zanesville and elsewhere for the purchase of the groceries, dry goods, and other necessaries for their families. About the year 1817, I. D. John- son started a store in Martinsburgh, then a village of about half a dozen houses. He purchased all kinds of produce, paying cash for the same. At that time tobacco was the principal crop of the farmers of southern Knox, and large quantities were annually raised by them on their newly cleared lands. Mr. Johnson purchased all that was offered him, and it is said, thus enabled many farmers of Jackson and surrounding townships to pay for their farms, who, if it had not been for Johnson, would have been unable to pay for them, as money was very scarce, and produce very low.

The distilling of whiskey was another business in which the early settlers engaged. They could convert their cereals into a smaller bulk, and as there was always a ready sale for whiskey at remu- nerative prices, they found it more profitable to manufacture their grain into whiskey than haul it to distant markets and sell it at low rates. The last still-house disappeared many years ago.

For several years after the first settlement of Jackson, one private school was sufficient for the

entire township. This school was held in private houses, and no school-house was erected for many years. At first the only school-houses were built of logs of very primitive style, but these have been superceded by substantial frame buildings. The first school, as near as can be ascertained, was taught by William Braddock. He was rather illiter- ate, but could "read, write and cipher to the rule of three," the "sum total" of his educational quali- fications. He was induced to become a teacher more by the urgent solicitations of the pioneers, than by his own preference. Braddock continued the profession of teaching many years, and until it became necessary for teachers to have a certificate, when he ceased to be a pedagogue.

Abraham McLane was another of the early teach ers. His literary attainments were at par with Braddock's. He also continued teaching until certificates were necessary to enable teachers to draw public money for their services, when he also retired from the profession.

The people generally are a church-going people. There are five churches, three having an organized existence within the township limits, and two with- in the limits of Bladensburgh.

For many years after the first settlement there were no regular church organizations. Preaching was held occasionally in the houses of the settlers. One of the first ministers to proclaim the gospel to the inhabitants of Jackson, was a Rev. Mr. Cun- ningham, a Presbyterian divine. He was a very plain man in his dress and habits, and of moderate talents and ability. Being poor it became neces- sary to devise means for his support. A subscrip- tion paper was drawn up and circulated among the people. One of the signers was proprietor of a small distillery. When his subscription became due, on demand, he refused to pay it. After re- peated demands and refusals he was sued, judg- ment for the full amount of his subscription was obtained against him, execution was issued, and the constable, into whose hands it was given, levied on a barrel of whiskey, sold the same, and thus satisfied the debt.

Rev. James Fry, a Baptist, was another of the early ministers, who labored earnestly to lead the people to eternal life. The Methodists were early in the field, but did not erect a house of worship,

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holding their meetings in churches of other de- nominations, or at private dwellings. At one time they were quite prosperous, but at present there are but few in the township.

The first Disciple church in Ohio was organized in this township in August, 1828. At that date Alexander Campbell, and his co-laborers, were zealously laboring in Ohio and other States. A few copies of his paper, the Millennial Harbinger, were circulated in the township, and being care- fully read, proved to be seed sown in good ground, yielding a large increase. Elijah Harris, Washing- ton Houck, and John Wheeler, with their wives, organized themselves into a Disciple church, which is claimed to be the first regular church organiza- tion of that denomination in this State. Rev. Charles Van Voorhes, still living, was the first pas- tor, and only preacher for many years.

Another Disciple church, known as Dennis chapel, was organized about 1830. It is situated in the southwestern part of the township. Wil- liam D. Beatty and George Eley were the first elders, and William Braddock and Benjamin Eley the first deacons. Rev. James Porter was the first pastor, and continued in that capacity until 1839, when he was superceded by Rev. Charles Van Voorhes, who has preached to the people most of the time since.

At the first organization of this church there were about twenty members. At this date the organization has nearly one hundred members in full connection. A small frame church was erected soon after the organization, which was replaced by one thirty-six by forty feet in dimensions some years since. There is a flourising Sunday-school in connection with this church, S. E. Bell, super- intendent.

The first Union church of Jackson township, was organized about 1870. The first trustees were John S. McCament, Uriah Blue, Henry Holtz, J. F. Way and Ephraim Anderson. John Way, Uriah Blue, and Jonathan Traver were the first elders. Rev. George Stevenson was the first pas- tor, succeeded by Revs. Ambi Welch, J. B. Clover, James Lamp, and Allen Mann, who is present pas- tor.

In 1870 a neat frame building, thirty-five by forty feet, was erected on section twelve. The

number of members at the commencement of the organization was thirty, which has increased ten in number.

In 1879 a neat and commodious structure was erected in the southeastern part of Jackson, known as the Mt. Zion church. It was built for the ac- commodation of the people resident in that locality, and belongs to no particular denomina- tion. The first and also the present trustees were Simon Ashcraft, Perry Harris, and William Mer- cer.

This church has no regular pastor, the constitu- tion prohibiting any one denomination or sect from having absolute control.

The first village in Jackson township was Front Royal. It was located on the farm of William Darling, in the northern part of the township, about the year 1832. It had a small store, blacksmith shop, and several dwellings. It flourished for some years, but owing to a deficiency in the title of the village lots the village was abandoned, and not a vestige of it remains to mark its location.

Bladensburgh was laid out in 1833 by John and Samuel Wheeler and Washington Houck. The village lies in both Jackson and Clay townships, the main part being in Jackson. Washington Houck built the first house. Mr. Houck first started a blacksmith shop, and after a few months engaged in the keeping of a hotel. After following this business many years he engaged in the mer- cantile business.

John Wheeler started the first store in Bladens- burgh in 1833. He was for many years a promi- nent citizen, Whig politician, and a zealous worker in the Disciple church. He subsequently removed to Iowa, where he died some years since. Mr. Wheeler was the first postmaster of Blandensburgh, and Washington Houck was the first mail carrier. He carried the mail once a week from Blandensburgh to Martinsburgh, a distance of four miles, perform- ing the journey on foot, and received as compen- sation eight dollars for eighteen months service.

A flourishing mill was erected on the bank of the Wakatomica, on the present site of the village, prior to the location of the place. It is now oper- ated by Messrs. Anderson & Darling.

One of the early physicians and prominent citi- zens, Dr. A. C. Scott, came to Bladensburgh in

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

1841. He is a son of Rev. James Scott, the pio- neer Presbyterian preacher of Knox county. Dr. Scott has been a very successful physician, and still has a large and lucrative practice. He has served as justice of the peace, and held other offices.

Ohio Lodge, No. 199, Free and Accepted Masons, at Bladensburgh, commenced work under dispen- sation dated July 19, 1850, granted by the Most Worthy Grand Master M. Z. Kreider. The officers by dispensation were: Eli Farnham, W. M .; A. C. Scott, S. W .; Peter Berry, J. W.

Organized under charter by Mr. Henry Bar- ton, proxy for Grand Master, on the third day of November, 1851, under charter dated October 28, 1851. Its first officers were installed on that even- ing, and were: Eli Farnham, W. M .; A. C. Scott, S. W .; Peter Berry, J. W .; William Underwood, treasurer; James Loveridge, secretary; Obed Un- derwood, S. D .; D. J. Bertz, J. D .; Alexander Mc- Cament, tyler.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 92

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