History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 84

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

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John Rhodes, and a son and daughter, came to Jersey in May, 1815, and lived three weeks in a sort of rail pen until they could build a cabin.

Samuel Williams and family, and Abner White- head and family, both from New Jersey, settled in this township, in September, 1816. Phebe White- head, a daughter of Abner, died January 18, 1819, her death being the first in the township. In 1820 Mr. Whitehead erected a small log mill, on the South fork, the first in the township. It stood north of the Jersey village, at the crossing of the Jersey and Johnstown road. Benjamin Parkhurst

settled in Jersey in the spring of 1817. He was from New Jersey, and on his way west his son Peter was born on the Alleghany mountains. Soon after his arrival he erected a hand mill, upon . which himself and a few scattered settlers ground grain, before other mills were erected. Amos Park, a Virginian, also settled here in 1817. Thomas Alberry settled here in 1817, building his cabin on the South fork, where the Worthington road crosses it, and where he died March 1, 1867, aged seventy-two years.

Elijah Meeker and family moved from New Jersey to this township in 1817. He had six daughters and three sons. The first marriage in the township was that of his daughter Susan to John Osborn. The ceremony was performed by Rev. George Callahan, a Methodist, probably the first preacher in the township.

David Meeker and family, and David Peffers and family, from New Jersey, settled here in Sep- tember, 1817, and the following year Onesimus Whitehead and Elias Williams, with their families, from New Jersey, also settled here.

Wickliffe Condit and family were immigrants from New Jersey in 1819. Mr. Condit established the first tannery, and erected the first frame house in the township, Deacon Josiah Ward being the architect. Mr. Condit also had some agency in the sale of the first merchandise, having for his partners at different times E. O. Williams, A. D. Pierson, Dr. Beecher and Knowles Linnel.

Asa Whitehead, with his wife and eight children, from New Jersey, settled in this township in 1820.

Louis Headley, a young man, came with his father (Joseph) in 1816, married in 1822, and soon thereafter built the first saw-mill in the township, and also erected the first frame barn. The saw- mill stood on the South fork, just south of the vil- lage of Jersey.

It will be seen that the early settlers of this town- ship were nearly all from New Jersey, which fact gave the township its name. They were men of character and family, and were first-class pioneers.

The township was organized in 1820, by dividing St. Albans. Peter Headley, Richard Beem and Elias Williams were the first trustees; Amos Park, clerk; David Chadwick, constable ; Enos Williams, treasurer; Charles Beardslee, lister, and Deacon

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Josiah L. Ward, appraiser. Michael Beem was the first justice of the peace. By a unanimous vote of the citizens the township was named "Jer- sey."

The first school-house was erected in 1819, and was a primitive affair, the light being admitted through greased paper pasted over openings on each side of the house, made by cutting out a log. It stood on the farm of Onesimus Whitehead. Benjamin Alward was the first teacher.

Granville was the nearest post office for the first settlers. In 1830 a post office was established at the point where Jersey village was afterward located. At present there is a second office in the township, called Beech post office.

Jersey village was laid out in 1832 by Wickliffe Condit, Lewis Headley, Edward Beecher and An- drew Pierson. It is not a large town, but still contains a post office, a few dwelling houses, and, perhaps, one hundred people.

This township is better supplied with churches than any other in the county, except Newark. Ten churches have been organized; nine only having an existence at present, a Methodist church having removed to Lima township. The Presby- terian was the earliest organized. Deacon Ward in 1819 began holding meetings in the cabins of the settlers, for singing, prayer and the reading of sermons. The first sermons preached in the town- ship were in July, 1817, by Rev. Benjamin Green, a Baptist preacher from Hog run, and by Rev. Timothy Harris, pastor of the Congregationalist church of Granville. Mr. Harris came into the neighborhood on Saturday evening, and put up with Mr. Whitehead, who fed his horse with green wheat, cut for that purpose. From this it is in- ferred that it was during the last days of June. Mr. Green was to preach at Mr. Beem's cabin the next day (Sabbath), and Mr. Harris went with Mr. Whitehead to hear Mr. Green in the forenoon, and in the afternoon preached, himself, in the same house. The second sermon by a Presbyte- rian in the township was in June, 1818, on a week day, at the house of Mr. Whitehead, by a Mr. Humphrey, a man of small stature, sent out as a missionary by the Connecticut Missionary society, who afterward settled on the Western Reserve. Other denominations sometimes held meetings in

the settlements. Thomas Birch, a Methodist ex- horter, held religious meetings occasionally; and so did Mr. Avery, an Old-school Baptist. His meetings were sometimes held at the cabin of Mr. Elias Williams, and sometimes at a log school- house, which stood on a knoll between Mr. Isaac Whitehead's house and that of Mr. Lewis Condit.

In the fall of 1819, Mr. Josiah Ward, who had been an elder in the Presbyterian church in Bloomfield, New Jersey, moved with his family into the neighborhood. He loved the worship of God, and could not endure living in a neighbor- hood where the Christian's God was not recognized in some public manner. He, therefore, immedi- ately proposed to his neighbors that they meet regularly every Sabbath, and have religious ser- vices. Accordingly, such a meeting was held in his own cabin, probably the first Sabbath after he occupied it. .

About ten months after this first meeting, July 28, 1820, Rev. Timothy Harris and Matthew Tay- lor met at the house of Elias Williams, and organ- ized the Jersey Presbyterian church, with eigh: members, four male and four female.

In 1821, a hewed log school-house, designed also for public worship for all denominations, was raised as far as the eaves. It was probably not covered and finished in other respects until the fall of 1822, or perhaps 1823, some eighteen months or two years after the logs were put up. It stood in what is now the graveyard.

The first resolution passed by this congregation was :-

"Resolved, That a subscription be opened to procure some. thing toward paying Rev. Matthew Taylor for his labers among us."

One year later, in January, 1823, the congrega- tion-

"Resolved, unanimously, That we employ Mr. Taylor tu preach one-quarter of the time for a year, if we can raise funds sufficient to pay him."

Similar resolutions were passed in 1824 and 1825.

In January, 1827, a committee was appointed "to wait on Rev. S. S. Miles, of Newark, and learn of him if he can be hired to preach for us: how much and what kind of pay he will take for a certain part of his time." The committee's report says: "Mr. Miles can be hired one-fourth of his

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time for sixty dollars; one-fourth in cash and three-fourths in produce, delivered at Newark." The congregation agreed. to these terms; and so far as appears, Mr. Miles continued to preach on these terms until the fall of 1829, almost three years.

November 4, 1829, Rev. Charles Marsh Putnam preached his first sermon for the Jersey church, in a log school-house on the side hill east of the late Isaac Whitehead's dwelling house. From the sec- ond Sabbath in January, 1830, when they first en- tered the log building, designed for schools and preaching, the congregation always had a home. In January, 1833, they began erecting a frame meeting house, as the log school-house was too small to hold the congregation; and by the last of May following, it was so far finished as to be occu- pied by the Licking county conference of churches. This building was completed in 1836, and contin- ued to be their house of worship until 1856, when a new church was erected. Mr. Putman occupied this church as pastor until the beginning of 1868, when failing health admonished him to cease his labors. By an act of Pataskala presbytery he was then made pastor emeritus. He thus sus- tained a nominal connection with the only church to which he ever ministered until his death, which occurred April 17, 1869. He was sixty-seven years of age, and had been pastor of that church forty years.

The house of worship dedicated in 1856, be- came too small for the congregation before his death, and some years ago ten feet were added to it at a cost of fifteen or sixteen hundred dollars, so that the church now has a comfortable and com- modious house, with an excellent bell and organ.

Rev. . Andrew Thomas succeeded Mr. Putnam, and was installed November, 1869. The Jersey church, though never large in numbers, has been very efficient in sustaining a Sabbath-school and weekly prayer meeting, and in her contributions to the various benevolent boards sustained by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church.

The establishment of the Universalist church dates back to 1824, when the Rev. Mr. Curry preached a few sermons at the house of Michael Beem. A few sermons were delivered at the same place by the Rev. Mr. Rogers in 1825 and 1826.

The church was organized in 1829, and Rev. Tru- man Strong served it as pastor until 1833. Rev. Henry Jolly was pastor from 1833 to 1837, when Rev. Truman Strong again took charge and con- tinued until 1841. It was during this last pastor- ate of Mr. Strong that the church was erected, in 1840, and a Sabbath-school organized in 1841, with Daniel Beem as superintendent. Rev. Mr. Case followed Mr. Strong, his charge beginning in 1842. He was succeeded by T. C. Eaton in 1844; Rev. Mr. Johnson in 1846; William Norton in 1848; Henry Gifford in 1849; Samuel Binns in 1854, and Rev. W. B. Woodbury in 1857. Mr. Woodbury still occupies the pulpit of this church. The membership is about sixty. The Sunday- school was organized in 1841, and is yet in a flour- ishing condition.

Harmony Baptist church was organized Septem- ber 27, 1837, by Elders George DeBolt and Eli Ashbrook, with sixteen members. John Boggs, Samuel and Lewis Wright were elected deacons. Elder John Hill preached occasionally at the house of Mr. Armstrong, from 1830 to 1835. Elders George DeBolt, Eli Ashbrook, James Biggs, Wain Taylor, J. P. Taylor, Samuel Meredith, Mr. Han- over and others have supplied the church. They have no regular pastor at present, the pulpit being supplied by Rev. G. N. Tussing, of Columbus. The present church was erected about 1874, and cost six hundred dollars. No Sunday-school is connected with it. .

The first regular Baptist church was constituted June 2, 1845, by Elder William Smedmer, with twenty-four members. Mr. S. Gorman, a college student from Granville, preached a few sermons in 1838, and he and others officiated occasionally until 1845. They erected a church in 1846. Elder Smedmer was pastor from 1845 to 1847: followed by Elder Adams in 1847; Elder John Carter in 1861; Elder I). D. Walden and others in 1863; Elder David Adams in 1864; Rev. Simeon Sigfried in 1866; Elder Griswold in 1869.

Some of the principal original members were Abigail Woods, Swayne Williams, Gardner Woods, Mr. and Mrs. Urie Colgrove, and Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Philbrook.

Prior to the erection of the present church edifice, which occurred in 1846, the meetings were

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held in the school-house near the site of the church.

The church is not strong, numbering something more than twenty members; they have no settled pastor, but services are occasionally held.

A Sabbath-school has generally been connected with the church ever since its organization, and at present, a union Sabbath-school is held here, which is largely attended by the children of the various religious societies in this vicinity. John Stover is superintendent.

The Catholics commenced religious services in 1837, at the house of Francis Carr in Jersey vil- lage; Rev. Young, of Lancaster, being the officia- ing priest. Services have been continued since that time. The present organization was probably effected about 1844, by Bishop Samuel; some of the earliest members being Roddy Lafferty, Patrick Duian, Daniel Cush, and Thomas and Edmond Hall. The first services were held in the houses of the members, but about 1855, the society erected a hewed log building, in which worship was continued until 1875, when the present large frame, named St. Joseph's Catholic church, was built at a cost of one thousand dollars, besides a large amount of voluntary labor.

Father Clark is at present officiating, with a membership of thirty or forty. A Sunday-school has been long connected with the church, with a membership, at present, of thirty or more.

In 1818 Rev. George Callahan, a Methodist, preached at the house of Elijah Meeker, and in the following year a society was organized, with thirteen members. Rev. Abner Goff was the first circuit preacher.

The place of meeting was afterward changed to Mr. Green's in Lima township, and the further history of this organization, therefore, pro- perly belongs to that township.

The Methodist Episcopal church, located on the Worthington road near the center of this township, was organized in July, 1844, by Revs. John Dillon and Isaac Warnock, at the house of Vachel Dickerson. The first members were Vachel Dickerson and wife, Solomon Wheeler and wife, Mary Albery, and James Banner and wife; these seven members constituting the organization. Meetings were held at Mr. Dickerson's house, near

the present church edifice, which was erected in 1860, and dedicated in 1861. It cost six hundred and fourteen dollars. A few of the leading minis- ters who have served this congregation, are Revs. Joseph Brown, Samuel C. Recker, James Gilruth, James Hooper, Joseph Adair, Joseph Crayton, James B. Finley and Vaughn. The present pastor is Rev. Watson. A Sabbath-school has been kept up during the summer months, ever since the organization of the church, the present membership being about thirty-five.

On the twenty-seventh of March, 1853, Rev. S. C. Riker organized another Methodist society in the cabin of S. D. Ball, of twenty members. In 1855 they erected a church edifice, which they called "Union Chapel." B. T. Carter, William Dennis and W. S. Easton have been class leaders. The present membership is about thirty.

The United Brethren church was organized at Burnside's school-house in 1849, by Revs. Jeffer- son Babcock and George Hathaway, with fifteen members. It was called "Eden." They soon erected a log church which they occupied until 1865, when they built a frame, which stands on the line between Jersey and Monroe townships. Rev. Mr. Levingston was the first pastor.

When the new building was erected, the church was reorganized by Rev. William McDaniel, with the following as the principal members: Benjamin Green, Benjamin and George Clouse, William Clark, Joseph Smith, Elisha Green and wife, and William Burnsides and wife. The new edifice cost nine hundred dollars. The present pastor is Rer. H. A. Bovey, and the church is in a good, healthy condition, with a membership of sixty-five.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1867, and was, for a few years, held only during the summer months, but for the last five years it has been gain- ing in strength and interest, and has been con- tinued the entire year. The present membership is about seventy-six.

A Christian Union society was organized in 1865, by Benjamin Green, after a series of services in the old United Brethren log church. Revs Benjamin Green and Stevenson have been the principal preachers. Mr. Green is a grandson of the Rev. Benjamin Green who preached at Mr. Beem's house in 1817.

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The present pastor of this church is Rev. R. W. Graham, of Granville, and the society is in a strong, active, healthy condition, with a membership of about one hundred.

The Sabbath-school is also well attended, hav-

ing a membership of one hundred, with average attendance of sixty. This school has been in ex- istence since the organization of the church, with .occasional intervals of rest. It was permanently established, however, about five years ago.

CHAPTER LVIII. LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-LOCATION-EARLY HUNTING GROUND-MOUNDS-FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-TOPOGRAPHY-VILLAGES-CHURCHES.

IBERTY township was among the last organ-

ized and the last in the county to be settled. It was organized in 1827, out of the east half of Monroe. It is generally level or gently rolling, and was originally covered with a dense growth of hard wood timber. Being away from the principal water courses and roads by which the emigrants traveled, probably caused it to be overlooked by the earlier settlers.

The soil is clay, but generally fertile and pro- duces good crops of everything grown in any part of the county. It is watered by the tributaries of the Raccoon and North fork.

It was a most excellent hunting ground in an early day, and remained so longer than other town- ships around it, from the fact that the settlements around it drove the game into its dense forests for safety and better range. Wolves, deer, wild tur- keys, wild hogs, and other game were in great abun- dance.

A mound forty feet in diameter at the base and five feet high, situated half a mile north of Brook's Four Corners, seems to be the only visible evidence that the Mound Builders occupied this territory.

It is claimed that Rena Knight was the first set- tler in this township in 1821, and built the first cabin. This is probably a mistake. Mr. George Emerson says that his father, Stephen Emerson, with his family, came from Ware township, New Hampshire, settling within the present limits of St. Albans township, in the fall of 1815, that they

remained here three years, and in October, 1818, moved into the present limits of Liberty, making them the first settlers in this township. Mr. Em- erson and family were alone in this township nearly three years before any others ventured into it, then Rena Knight came (1821,) and erected the second cabin, and was soon followed by Mr. Sawyer, who became the third settler. George E. Emerson, the son, was the first white child born within the township limits.

In 1827, when the township was organized, but few settlers, in cabins scattered over the township, were within its limits. John Clark and Caleb Brooks were the first justices of the peace; Stephen Emerson, Jesse Payne and John Sawyer, trustees; Joseph Sawyer, treasurer, and William McCamy, clerk. In addition to these officers the following named gentlemen were residents of the township at this time: William Payne, Benjamin B. Knight, Joseph Riger, A. Longwell, Joseph P. Brooks, Abraham Mouser, Solomon Brooks, Jas- per Emerson, David Brooks, David Martin, John G. Brooks, Joseph Watkins, Joseph Kelso, Sam- uel Wheeler and William C. Adams. These all settled here within a few years preceding the or- ganization of the township.

The fact that the land was previously owned by non-residents, also had an influence in retarding early settlement.

The township is regarded as one of the best grazing sections of the county.

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It is divided into nine school districts, the cen- tral district containing a town house, where elec- tions are held and township business transacted.

There seems to be a ridge passing across this township from northwest to southeast, covering its central portion, and dividing the waters of North fork and Raccoon fork of Licking. The headwaters of the former are in the northern part of the town- ship, the outlet of the large swamp on the farm of J. P. Decrow, forming a part of Lake fork, a tribu- tary of the North fork, and which joins that stream in Washington township. Another small tributary of the Lake fork rises in the vicinity of Brook's corners.

The main stream in the southern part is Lob- del's run, a tributary of the Raccoon, which passes, with numerous tributaries, across the southwest- ern part of the township, through the village of Concord. The headwaters of Brushy fork are in the southeastern part of this township, in the vicin- ity of New Way.

The Ohio Central railroad passes across its southwestern corner on its way from Granville to Johnstown and Hartford, but there is no station within the limits of the township, and with this ex- ception it is not troubled with railroads or tele- graphs, and contains no important highways.

There are two small villages within its limits- Concord and New Way. The former contains twelve or fifteen houses, and is located on Lobdel's run, and the latter, a cross-road's place of half a dozen or more houses, is located in the eastern part of the township.

There are five churches at present in this town ship, the first religious organization being effected by the Baptists in the village of Concord in 1832. It is called the "Regular Baptist church of Liberty township," to distinguish it from the Free Will Baptist, this society also having an active existence in this town. The Regular Baptist church was organ- ized in a school-house by Revs. Owen Owens and David Adams. The original members of this or- ganization were David Adams, Isaac Holmes, Elias Willison, Clarrisa Baker, Emily Stackwell, and Martha Manser.

The present church edifice was erected in 1843 or 1844, the people generally subscribing for that purpose. The two ministers above mentioned

were followed by Elders Carr, Northup, Dicke. and Turner. The membership at present is be: eighteen.

A union Sunday-school is maintained în Co: cord, with a present membership of about cz: hundred.

The children of both the Methodist and Free will Baptist churches attend this school, as well e others, and it is well sustained. The Free W. Baptist church, located in Concord, was organized in 1842, by Elders G. W. Baker, J. D. Hea ... Oscar Baker, and others. The members of the first organization were, Stephen Emerson, the first settler of the township; T. Blake, C. Knapp. i Robbins, Mary Blake, Mary Robbins, Ann: Knapp, S. Safford, J. Safford and E. Foster. T .: following have been pastors in this church: 6. W. Baker, G. Evens, O. E, Baker, Asa Pierce, K F. Higgins, Mr. Whittaker, O. J. Moon, A. H Whittaker, and H. W. Vaughn. This church b comparatively strong in numbers, the membership being about sixty-five, and is in a healthy condition The children attend the Union Sabbath-school.

The third permanent church organization in th: township was that of the Universalist, in 184; This church had quite a number of organization in the northern and western part of the county about that time. Soon after organization this con- gregation erected a church edifice at New Way. which has since been known as the "New Way church. Caleb Brooks, Eli Stockwell, A. Durfer. Lewis Ingelsbe, S. H. Smith, H. C. Woodworth. William Aram, Christian Edelblute, Jacob Lane. David Brooks, B. L. Critchet, A. J. Critchet. Albert Geer, David Stratton, Ira Stratton, N. S Woodworth, S. G. Decrow, D. M. Brooks, John Carris, Joel Martin, Samuel McDaniel, Henry Rhoney, John Harter, Asa Ward, and D. John- son were the original members of this organiza- tion. The church, erected by subscription, cost about six hundred dollars. Prior to the organiza tion preaching had been enjoyed several years, the principal preacher being Rev. T. C. Eaton I: was probably through his influence mainly that the organization was effected. Mr. Eaton was sur ceeded in 1844 by Rev. Mr. Jolly. From 1846 te 1850 Rev. S. Gifford had charge of this congrega- tion, and he was followed by Revs. Johnson, Em-

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met and Samuel Binns, who severally occupied the pulpit until 1857. In 1858 Rev. B. W. Wood- bery, of Granville, took charge and has continued his ministerial labors up to the present time. This is quite a large active congregation for a country church, numbering sixty-four communicants.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1858, and now has a membership of sixty or seventy. The superintendents have been A. S. Jamison, S. R. Sanger and others.

The church located near the line of Mckean township, known as "Liberty chapel," was organ- ized in 1866, by the consolidation of the Metho- dist Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodist churches. Messrs. John Barrick, John Rusler, G. R. Gos- nell and others were prominent in organizing this church; and S. S. Wyeth, Edwin Runnels, D. G. Wyeth, G. K. Wyeth and some others were mem- bers of the first organization.

Their first meetings were held in the fall of

1866, and in 1867 they erected the present church edifice, at a cost of three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 84

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