History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 70

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Ohio > Licking County > History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present > Part 70

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

was lodged in it before, could not be determined. A heavy ox-cart was taken from the yard of Colonel Wright, carried about forty rods, and struck the ground with such force as to break the axle, and entirely demolish one wheel.

A son of Colonel Wright, upwards of fourteen years of age, was standing in the house, holding the door. The house which was built of logs, was torn to pieces, and the lad thrown with such vio- lence across the room as to kill him instantly. A coat hanging in the same room, was found the following November in Coshocton county, more than forty miles distant, and was afterward brought to Burlington and identified by Colonel Wright's family. Other articles, such as shingles, pieces of timber and furniture, were carried twenty and thirty miles. Miss Sarah Robb, about twelve years of age, was taken from her father's house, and carried some distance. She could not tell how far; but when consciousness returned, found herself about forty rods from the house, and walking toward it. She was much bruised, but not very greatly injured. The family of a Mr. Vance, on seeing the storm approaching, fled from the house to the orchard adjoining. The upper part of the house was blown off and through the orchard, the lower part remaining. Two sons of Mr. Vance were killed, one immediately, and the other died in a day or two from wounds; these and the son of Colonel Wright were all the lives known to have been lost in the storm. A house built of large logs, in which was a family, and which a number of workmen had entered for shelter from the storm, was raised up on one side, and rolled off the spot where it stood, without injuring any one. A yoke of oxen belonging to William H. Cooley, were standing in the field, and after the storm, were found com- pletely enclosed and covered with fallen timber, so that they were not released until the next day, but were not essentially injured.

A black walnut tree, two and a half feet in diameter, which had lain on the ground many years, and become embedded in the earth to nearly one-half its size, was taken from its bed, carried across the creek, and left about thirty rods from its former location.

A crockery crate, in which several fowls were confined, was carried by the wind several miles,

and, sttange to relate, with its contents set down without injury.

Instances could be multiplied, but it is unneces- sary; the evidence is clear that it was one of the most violent storms on record.

The first settlers in the township, as nearly as can now be ascertained, were James Dunlap, Cor- nelius Vanausdal, Henry Oldacre, Nathan Conard, John Johnson, Jonathan Beaty, Hugh McKindley, Adam Patterson, John Dixon and Thomas Dixon in 1806; David Wallace, J. Helphry, Jesse Van Fossen, John Chonner, James Butcher, James Dickey and Jesse Smith in 1808; George McCrary, Timothy Chapman, James, John and Abner Mc- Lain, Thomas Scott and Henry McKindley about 1810; and a little later Wait Wright, Samuel Ed- mon, Adam Patterson, Van Simmons, Thomas Bare and Ezra Mead.

In 1806 the wolves and bears were in the ma- jority.

In 1810 the settlers erected a block-house as a defence against the Indians. It was on "Indian path," near the Dunlap residence, on the road from Utica to Johnstown.

John Chonner built the first mill in the township and taught the first Sabbath-school, and was a lead' ing citizen.

The village of Homer was originally called Bur- lington; but when the post office was established it was found necessary to change its name, and the present name was chosen. It was laid out by John Chonner in 1816, and now contains about three hundred inhabitants; has a large school-house, three churches, two dry goods stores, kept by S. L. Blue and Elmer Scott, two hotels, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one cabinet shop, and the usual number of mechanical establishments.

The Congregational church (now Presbyterian) was organized May 5, 1828, by Rev. Jacob Little, of Granville. The examining committe were Dea- con Amasa Howe, of Granville, Deacon Orin Barnes, of St. Albans, Deacon Eliseus Fowler, of Hartford, and Samuel W. Rose, of Granville, a licentiate of Lancaster presbytery, who was its first minister. They have a good membership, a flour- ishing Sabbath-school, and a neat, commodious house of worship. This church is not strong, the present membership being twenty or more. Their

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first church building stood where the Union school- house now stands. It was then Old School Presby- terian. Subsequently it united with the new school, and they erected the present building.

The Baptist church edifice was finished July 9, '1832, and dedicated July 21, 1832, by Rev. Owen Owens. They formerly had a large membership, but many families have removed, and their places have not been filled; they are now compar- atively few in number. The original members of this church organization were John Esthell, Titus Knox, Benjamin Warner, Lewis Hatch, Mabel Thrall, Mariah Smith, Mary Woods, Ruth Warner, Mary Emerson, Mary Pugh, Susannah Hatch, Peggy A. Knox, Elizabeth Galer, Peter Galer, Leonard Woods, Barbara Wheeler, Jacob Galer, Daniel Galer, Eliza Hard, Mary Esthell, Ann Tellis, Elizabeth Tellis, Elizabeth Warner, Howard Phillips, Elizabeth Phillips, and David Brown. The first church building was erected soon after the church was organized. It was a frame building, and was occasionally added to and repaired. It is yet standing, and is used for a carpenter shop. The present building, a frame, was erected about thirty years ago. It has recently been repaired and painted. Services are held here every two weeks. The membership is about thirty three. This is what is known as New School Baptist, which admits the Sunday school as part of their religious worship. A school of this kind was early estab- lished, and is yet maintained.

The Methodists held their early meetings in the cabins of the members, and afterward in the log school-houses that began, soon after the first settle- ment, to spring up here and there all over the country. Their first church edifice in this town- ship was erected about 1834, and cost about one thousand dollars. This building was in use nearly thirty-five years. The congregation began the erection of the present church in 1868, and it was dedicated June 25, 1871, by Rev. M. Collyer. It is a substantial structure, large, handsome, well finished, and furnished in the most approved modern style, and cost about twenty-five hundred dol- lars. They have a membership of seventy-five, a good Sabbath-school, numbering one hundred pupils, and the church is in a prosperous condi- tion.

For many years the preachers to this class were the itinerant ministers sent out by the church conference, who had regular preaching places in various parts of this and other counties. Among the original members of the class were Thomas Callihan, Benjamin Belt, David Weiant, Solo- mon Wheeler, Nathan Conard, Isaac Vanosdoll, David Watson, Henry Overholt, and James Houck.

Homer was the native place of Major General William S. Rosecranz, his father residing here as farmer, merchant and tavern keeper. It is also the home of the venerable William Knowles, a poet of considerable ability.

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CHAPTER XLVI.

EDEN TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION-MOUND BUILDERS AND INDIANS-TOPOGRAPHY-NATURAL SCENERY-PICTURE ROCKS-RAIN ROCK-HUNT- ING GROUND-ORGANIZATION-THE PIONEERS-MILLS-FIRST ROAD-COAL-VILLAGES-FIRST SCHOOLS-CHURCHES.

"Rugged as Time's early dawn, Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun."

ADEN township lies in the northeastern part of the county and is essentially a township of farmers, there being no town within its limits. It is well watered by the Rocky fork and its tributaries, the main body of which stream passes diagonally across the township from north to south, near its center.

If any works of the Mound Builders existed in this township, they have almost, if not entirely, disap- peared. The soil was not well adapted to the erection of their works, being composed of rocks and clay. This mysterious people clung closely, it appears, to sandy, loamy soil, in the erection of their works.

No Indian history has been handed down, but tradition has it that the Indians encamped on the Bowling Green used this as a hunting ground.

The face of the country is broken and hilly, in some places assuming the dignity and grandeur of mountains; the valleys are generally narrow and very fertile. In its primitive state the oak predom- inated in the forest, considerable chestnut was also found, and the valleys were occupied by sugar and shell-bark hickory; and the entire township was covered with fruits, flowering shrubs, and trees of smaller growth. The abundance of fruits, nuts, and wild game, made it desirable hunting ground, and rendered it comparatively easy for the pioneers to support their families until the forest should be cleared away.

There are a great number of springs in every direction, bursting from the hillsides, and the water flowing from these form a network of small streams; these form the creeks which, after flowing in tortuous courses through narrow valleys find

their outlet in the wild and pretty Rocky fork. Long run, one of the larger tributaries of the Rocky fork in this township, rises in its northeast- ern corner, and flowing south along its eastern border, joins the Rocky fork in the northern part of Mary Ann township. Lost run rises in the southwestern part of this township, several branches of it uniting near the United Brethren church, and flowing south in Mary Ann township. A high range of hills passes across the township from northwest to southeast in its western part, dividing the waters of the Rocky fork from those of Lost run and the North fork of Licking. The springs before mentioned are more numerous in this town- ship than in any other in the county, with the pos- sible exception of Fallsbury.

The natural scenery is picturesque, and in many places on the Rocky fork approaches the sublime. About one mile north of the south line of Eden, on either side of the road, like two grim sentinels, stand the "Picture rocks," in the midst of scenery so wild and rugged as to attract pleasure parties from Newark and other places.

Rocky fork is appropriately named. Exclusive of the regular mountain ranges, scenery so wild - and rugged will seldom be found. All along this stream through Mary Ann and Eden, in every successive mile, the beholder is filled with wonder and amazement at the new and varied phases of Nature's face. Coming up from the south along this stream, over a narrow, winding mountain road, these Picture rocks seem, as it were, to be the "cap sheaf" of all the rugged beauty below; yet this mountainous scenery continues through the entire township along this stream. Turning to the right a little south of Picture rocks, a narrow, winding by-road leads over the hills of Long run, 1

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and in a short time "Rain rock" is reached. This is a spot of much natural beauty. Nothing of special importance is observed from the roadway, which passes directly over the top of Rain rock. 'Descending into a gloomy gorge, filled with trees and flowering shrubs, with huge sand-rocks piled promiscuously about on the hill-sides, a place that can only be reached by a footman, the Rain rocks and their accompaniments come into view. This is merely a huge, seamed sand rock that juts from the hill-side, over which the road passes, extending into the gorge thirty or forty feet, its under surface, so much of it as can be seen, being about one hundred feet long by thirty or forty feet wide. This surface appears elevated, at the highest part, some twenty feet or more above the surface of the ground beneath, but sloping slightly until it rests upon a solid wall of sand rock that supports it. It forms a gloomy, cavernous-looking excavation, and a shel- ter where a hundred people or more might escape from a storm. In various places through the crev- ices of this rock-roof, clear, sparkling spring water issues, and keeps up an incessant dropping, year after year, upon the sand beneath, hence the name Rain rock. In winter this dropping water forms icicles, often reaching from the ground to the sur- face of the rock, making very beautiful pyramids of ice.

This is also a pleasure resort. Pleasure parties from Newark and other places sometimes camp out here for days, and ramble about among these picturesque hills. Meetings of various kinds are also held here, and rude plank seats are here ar- ranged for the accommodation of an audience, in front of which, and at a little distance from Rain rock, is a flat rock, four or five feet high, and ten or twelve feet in diameter accross the top, with a smooth surface, known as "Pulpit rock," upon which the speaker stands, and upon which several chairs may be placed for the accommodation of distinguished visitors. In rear of the "Audience room" and fronting Pulpit rock, is a huge mass of perpendicular rocks. These are "rent and riven" as by thunder bolts; the interstices being filled with laurel bushes, and the edges rimmed with ferns, causing this mass of rocks, during the proper sea- son, to look like an immense flower-pot. It is al- together a very pretty and healthful resort.

In its primitive condition, before the heavy hand of man was laid upon its timber and soil, this town- ship must have been a perfect Garden of Eden for the hunter both red and white. Game of every des- cription was plenty and continued to be plenty long after it was driven out of the more desirable parts of the county. Wild animals found a sure and safe retreat among these hills and rocks.

The township was organized in 1822, out of ter- ritory originally included in Mary Ann.

The pioneers were William Shannon, Jesse Old aker and Ebenezer Brown, who settled in the west half of the township in the spring of 1813. Shan- non came from Franklin county Pennsylvania; Old- aker from the Shenandoah Valley, and Brown from Washington county, Pennsylvania. These formed the nucleus of what is now Eden township. They were soon followed by Homeward Mariott, William Mitchell, Aaron Brown, Robert Mclaughlin, James Starrett, Rev. James Cunningham, James Porter, Charles McFadden, Elisha McFadden, James W. Colville, Jordan Hall, David Moats and W. Henthorn.

The erection of a grist mill-on the upper waters of the Rocky fork, by Ebenezer Brown, at a very early period, soon followed by the erection of another one mile below, by Honorable William Mitchell, were noteworthy events, and contributed largely to the comfort and convenience of the early settlers of Eden, Mary Ann, and portions of Knox county. The Mitchell mill is yet running, having changed hands several times. It is now owned by John Stevenson. Quite a number of mills, both saw- and grist-mills, have been erected at various places along the Rocky fork, in this township; few are now, however, in running order. This stream furnished very good mill-power, and seldom went dry, as it is fed largely by springs.

About 1854, a woollen factory was erected by Walter B. Finney, about a mile below the Mitchell mill. It was in operation about seven years when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Finney, who is yet living, also erected a saw-mill in connection with his woollen factory, which is yet running. A mill also had an existence in an early day near the Long Run post office, in the eastern part of the township, but its wheels have not been turning for some years.

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

The first road through this township was, prob- ably, the old State road, now known as the Mar- tinsburgh and Newark road, which passes across the township from north to south on the west side of the Rocky fork, and was much used in early days by travelers from Newark 'to Mt. Vernon, Martinsburgh and points further north.

Coal crops out in places among the hills in the vicinity of Rocky fork, but has not yet been found in workable veins.

It has been stated that there were no villages in this township, and this is, probably, the case, though some attempts have been made in this direction.

James Shannon undertook to build a town in the northwestern part of the township, on the Rocky fork, in the vicinity of a very small lake, about 1856. He erected a store-room, put in a stock of goods, and called the place Oberlin. At- tempts were also made to get a regular post office, but without success, though letters are left at the store for people in that neighborhood. This store has been conducted at different times by different parties, but during the past year (1880) it was destroyed by fire. A new building, however, has been erected and the store continued. In addition to this, there is a blacksmith shop, kept by John Hughes, and three or four dwellings. There was also a store on the farm of Elzey Dush about twenty years ago, in the eastern part of the town- ship. There is also a cluster of houses here- three or four.

The second regular post office in the township was established in 1858, by James W. Colville, who was the first postmaster. It was kept in his dwell- ing house, where it is yet kept, his son being the present postmaster. This is the Long Run office. There is no town there-nothing but Mr. Colville's residence, the church, and ruins of the old mill.

Probably the first school taught in this township was by James Cunningham, near the north line of the township, a short distance from Oberlin, in an old deserted building that had been erected for a tannery. The first school-house erected in the township was probably the one that stood near the Rocky fork, about a mile southeast of Oberlin. It was a rude, round log building, and James Cun- ningham kept the first school in it. The township

is now dotted over with school-houses, the people having learned that in these and the churches lie the only hope of the Republic.

Eden has furnished to the county two surveyors, William Anderson and James R. Anderson, a com- missioner, Jordan Hall, and a representative, Wil- liam Mitchell.

There are four churches in this township, two United Brethren, one Disciple and one Protestant Methodist.

The Disciple church was organized in 1829, and was the first church organization of that society in Licking county. It was organized in the log school-house known as the "Henthorn school youse," situated about four miles south of where, in 1834, a fine frame church edifice was erected on the farm of Benjamin Bell, in Knox county. The church was erected on the line between Knox and Licking counties.

The first disciple preaching in the county was by Elder James Porter at this place in 1829, by whom, also, this congregation was organized. He was also its first elder, and for some time its ablest and almost only public advocate. He resided in the vicinity, and perhaps to him more than to any other man, the organization is indebted for its origin, advancement, and present standing and in- fluence in the community. The members of its first organization were James Porter and wife, Benjamin Bell, sr., and wife, Elizabeth Bell (wife of Samuel Bell), Stephen Harris and wife, Isaac Henthorn and wife, and Elisha Stout.

About 1830 a public discussion took place in a log barn belonging to Jesse Oldacre, between Rev. James Gilruth, of the Methodist Episcopal church, and elder James Porter, on behalf of the Disciples. After this discussion, which seemed to arouse much interest, the congregation grew rapidly in numbers, and subsequently under the ministerial labors of such evangelists as James Porter, John Secrist, John Reed, Reuben Davis, John Sargent, James Mitchell, Jesse B. Ferguson, Arthur Critch- field, James J. Moss, Dr. William Hayes, David G. Mitchel, J. H. Jones, Isaiah Jones, Andrew Burns, Abner Lemert, Benjamin Bell, jr., David Sharpless, David Weaver, Jonas Hartzel, Ziba Brown, and many others, members were added until the member- ship reached more than one hundred and fifty.

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Benjamin Bell, jr., upon whom as teacher and elder, rested for ten or twelve years the almost ex- clusive control of the church, deserves much credit for his efficiency and faithfulness.

In 1873 this society erected a church in the western part of the township, called Eden chapel. The building is a very good one, and the society strong in numbers and active. They also maintain an active Sabbath-school. On the opposite side of the road from this church is the old burying ground, upon which was erected one of the first churches in the county, but which has gone out of existence, this Disciple church taking its place. The United Brethren are strong in this township, keeping up two churches, and near this place one of their first societies was organized, in the cabin of one of the members. This organization of United Brethren, however, never obtained a firm hold here, but by the help of the few Methodists in the neighborhood, erected in an early day, a log church, used occasionally by both denominations, when they were able to secure a minister. The United Brethren organization did not probably continue here more than six or seven years; they were not able to support a minister, and when the Pleasant Valley church was organized, in the south- ern part of the township, they attended there and gave the old log up entirely to the Methodists. The most influential members in the Methodist Episcopal organization were the Oldacres, two or three families of whom resided in that vicinity. Jesse Oldacre was prominent and influential in es- tablishing the church and keeping it up, hence it soon came to be known as the "Oldacre church." The principal members of the original organiza- tion of this Methodist class were Jesse Oldacre and wife, William Shannon and wife, William Oldacre and wife, H. B. Oldacre and wife and Margaret Wilkins. After the death of Jesse Old- acre and the removal of others of the members from the neighborhood, the church languished. The old log church building was probably erected about 1848, or before. As before stated the Dis- ciple church has taken the place, in this neighbor- hood, of the other two denominations.

The Pleasant Valley United Brethren church is located in the southern part of the township on the old State road, now the Newark and Martins-

burgh road, on the head-waters of Lost Run, and is one of the oldest churches in the county; har- ing been organized about 1820, or before. Rer. Joshua Montgomery was probably instrumental in the organization of this church, and was, probably. its first minister. As no records were kept fo: many of its earlier years, it is hard to get correc: data as to its earliest history ; but prior to the erec- tion of the church building, the members proba- bly held their meetings at the cabin of John Neigh- barger, who was one of its earliest and most prominent members. William Shannon and wife also belonged to this church in its earlier years The old log church built fifty years ago, or more. was known as the "Montgomery chapel," and answered all purposes of a church for forty years. or more. The present neat frame building was erected about 1869. The present membership of this church is about forty.

The Sunday-school was organized at an early day, and has been maintained with considerable regularity, now numbering forty or fifty members

In later years, about 1855, a second United Brethren church was organized in this township, called "Edwards' meeting-house." John Edwards. the Phillipses and some others were the principal movers in its establishment. The church, a frame building, was erected about 1856, in the eastern part of the township, on Long run, on Mr. Ed- wards' farm, and is frequently called the Long Run church. Preaching and a Sunday-school are main- tained with considerable regularity.

The Protestant Methodist church located in the southern part of the township, a mile or more northeast of the United Brethren church, was organized about 1857. Stephen Miles, deceased. was the founder of this church. He and his brother William, Washington Holten, Jacob Sous- land and some others were the first members of this organization. They held their meetings at first in the school-house, but erected the present church building in 1858. Rev. Hoagland was probably their first minister. This is now a strong. active church, with a membership of fifty or more.

Ten years after the erection of the church, a Sabbath-school was organized, and is maintained with considerable success, the average attendance being forty or fifty.

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

This township is, at this time, divided into farms of ordinary size; is pretty well cleared and fenced, though much of its surface, especially along the Rocky Fork, will probably never ' be made capable

of cultivation. Much of its primitive beauty and grandeur will remain while time lasts, to delight the eye of the traveler.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 70

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826