USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 100
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"Resolved. That we, through a committee, call upon our brethren in the ministry of the Associ- ate Church, for supplies of preaching ; and, also. that we defray the expense of the same.
. Therefore, on motion of James Achison, John Bell and Neal McNight were appointed said committee, and the above resolutions adopted and signed by the following members of said con- gregation, who protested with others.
" JOHN M. LANE, Chairman. "JOHN BELL, Clerk.
.. PROTEST .-- Robert Achison, John Bell, James R. Achison, Juliana Achison, Rose A. Achison, John M. Lane, Susanna Lane, John Achison, Ebenezer Achison, M. R. Achison, Messer McNight, Neal McNight, Margaret McNight. Mary Bell. Jane Bell, Mrs. John Bell, Harriet Bell, and others. Said committee immediately corre- sponded with the Northern Indiana Presbytery, asking to be taken under their care, and supplied with preaching, as the ministers of Muskingum Presbytery had all gone into the U. P. Church, to which said Presbytery responded immediately. and in September following, the Rev. James Dixon was sent as supply, by authority of said Presbytery, and an election of Elders was had in April. 1859, resulting in the election of Robert Achison, Joseph McCune and Ephraim McKee- nan : at the same time, and by the same author- ity, a call was moderated by Rev. Samuel Hind- man, which resulted in the choice of Rev. Wil- liam Ballentine, who continues to be the pastor."
The persons leaving this church to unite with the new church, retained possession of the church edifice, and in 1863, this church erected a meet- ing-house for themselves, and have continued to occupy it. In 1865, the following officers were elected :
Ruling Elders-Robert Maxlock, Eli Fisher and John Ballentine.
In 1872, the following were also elected : Geo. Fisher, John Bell, J. M. Lane and Matthew R. Achison. The session has been reduced by death, to seven members; the congregation by death, and removal, to twenty-eight families- about eighty members.
M'CORKLE COLLEGE.
In 1862, Rev. William Ballentine, a minister of the Associate Presbyterian Church, invited several young men to engage in preparation for the ministry, offering to hear their recitations in his study. They accepted his proposition, and were joined by others, until his study was insuf- ficient for their accommodation, when the meet- ing-house was offered and accepted by them. This new-born institution, was named the Bloom- field High School. The students were studious, and when ready to enter the senior class, in 1866, the Synod took notice of the promising school, and determined to give it an earnest support, and to that end passed an act appointing Robert Achison, John Bell. William Finney, Samuel McKee, Robert Hyslop, Robert Brown, A. Mc- Creery, J. H. Johnson and John Baird, a Board of Trustees.
Bloomfield Academy was incorporated in 1869, and a home purchased for the use of the stu- dents. Such was their progress, that a college building became a necessity. J. Bell, as Presi- dent of the Board, was appointed general finan- cial agent, and, in that capacity, raised funds sufficient to warrant them in entering upon the erection of the college building. In the fall of 1872, the foundation was laid, and the spring term of 1873 was held in the basement. À charter was obtained February 12th, 1873, and the institution was clothed with university powers. Rev. W. Ballentine, A. M., was elected President ; James Hindman, A. B., Vice President ; and R. C. Kerr, A. B., Pro- fessor of Languages.
The college has an endowment of eight thous- and dollars, and, including the value of buildings and grounds, a capital of twenty thousand dol- lars. The situation, in the eastern portion of the village, is pleasant and attractive, and the ac- commodations are ample.
BLOOMFIELD CEMETERY.
The site, having been selected by the citizens, was donated by Walter Hogseed ; the deed, however, was not recorded. In 1879, an ad- ditional one-third of an acre was obtained, and a deed made for the whole by James Hogseed, the tract then comprising three and one-third acres. The first person buried there was Lor- enzo Dow, a school teacher, in 1818.
Petrified .- Peter Bond was buried just north of Peter B. Geyer's house, in 1853 ; his friends determined, in 1878, to remove his remains to Bethel Cemetery, and found his body completely petrified ; probably caused by being saturated by a stream surcharged with limestone.
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
TANNERY.
In 1835, David T. Bigger erected a small tannery, on the road from New Concord to Bloomfield, and continued the business about ten years.
PHYSICIANS.
The first resident physician in the township was Dr. E. S. Wortman. He lived on the north- east quarter of section sixteen, in 1839.
Dr. A. B. McCandless came in 1850, and located in Bloomfield, and remained four years.
Dr. R. T. Wark began practice in Bloom- field in 1850, and remained twenty years.
Dr. J. Morris Lane located in the village in 1848, and is still in the service, much to the grat- ification of his patrons.
BLOOMFIELD.
The town site of Bloomfield, was originally owned by David Rankin. In 1853. Thomas Clegg bought a few acres and laid out lots seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen, north of the Cambridge road. William Weylie laid out lots one, two, three, four, five and six, south of the road, and Daniel McLane laid out lots fourteen, fifteen and sixteen, west of the others. The surveying was done, November 8th, 1853, by Joseph Fisher. John D. Hogseed made an addition in March, 1873, and J. P. Lytle mnade another in September, 1879. Bloomfield contains McCorkle College, William Ballentine, principal ; an U. P. Church, Rev. J. P. Lytle, pastor ; an A. P. Church, William Ballentine. pastor.
Sago Postoffice, W. A. Mintier, Postmaster ; he also keeps a store ; J. Morris Lane, M.D .; a grist and saw mill, Theophilus Wark, proprie- tor; Mrs. M. Guthrie's grocery ; J. W. Mc- Kinney, blacksmith ; J. L. Morrow, shoemaker : William Hammond, undertaker; Mrs. Guss Parr, milliner.
BLOOMFIELD POSTOFFICE.
The first Postmaster was John Crooks, who was appointed August 29th, 1857 ; his successor was William Weylie, appointed in 1862, who served until September 14th, 1865, when Rob- bert Guthrie was appointed. Mr. Guthrie died. and Mrs. Guthrie was appointed, June 24th, 1868, and served until October, 1874, when she was succeeded by Alexander Wilson, who was ap- pointed October Ist, 1874, and served until Jan- uary, 1876, when he was succeeded by John J. White, who was succeeded April ist, 1877, by W. A. Mintier. the present incumbent.
The mail is supplied to this office from New Concord Depot.
SCHOOLS.
The first school house was a round log structure,
24x24, with puncheon floor and furnishings. It stood on the northwest quarter of section eleven. then (1818) owned by Walter Hogseed. It served the double purpose of school house and "meeting house." This building was subse- quently moved further down the Cambridge road, just beyond the present residence of Theophilus Wark. It gave way in after years to a hewed log hexagonal building. There were two other buildings of this shape, used for school purposes. but they have disappeared.
The first teacher was Lorenzo Dow. He died, and was buried near the scene of his labors, in 1818, and was the first person buried in the grounds that became Bloomfield Cemetery. It is said that John Bell introduced into school No. 4 the first blackboard in eastern Muskingum. It was made by Peter B. Geyer, one of his scholars, in 1843.
There are six good frame school houses, in as many districts in this township, at this time, and under the management of a Board of Education. who are proud of our public school system, and do what they can to secure its advantages to the pupils.
STORES.
The first store was kept in the house where Samuel Moorehead now lives, by Joseph Graham. in 1833. The next was kept by William Mason, between the roads opposite Mr. T. Mark's house. east of the village of Bloomfield. He carried on the business there from 1835 to 1843. The next store was located in the triangle formed by the junction of the Adamsville and New Concord roads, in Bloomfield, in 1848, and was conducted by George Buchanan. He was succeeded by William Wevlie, who built a new store on the corner, lot No. 3, opposite the present post- office, in 1851, and continued in business until 1866. In 1852, Thomas Forsyth began busi- ness in the old store, between the Concord and Dresden roads, and, in 1854. built a store on the corner, lot No. 13. now occupied by W. A. Mintier. He retired from business in 1857. After Forsyth, came Atchison & Bell, then Atchison & Bro., James Black, J. F. Warrick, and Thomas Mackey. W. A. Mintier, the present occupant. began business in the same building in 1877.
MILITARY RECORD.
The following list embraces nearly all of the patriots of this township who dared to fight for and preserve our country in the hour of peril. when rebel hordes would bave desolated our homes and given birth to something akin to des- potisin. The list was furnished by Mr. T. Wark. and is doubtless as near correct as it is possible to make it at this late date. We give the names and regiments in the order furnished, which are as follows :
Companies A and F. Seventy-eighth Regi-
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
ment O. V. I .- G. H. Hobland, J. L. Geyer, D. R. Bell, John Mc Whirter, Hiram Moorhead, John P. Ross, Mathias Trace, John R. Wilson, David Wilson, John W. Sarbaugh, John H. Trace, Charles S. Wylie, Alexander McCon- aughy, Joseph Ramsey, Jefferson HI. Miller, Jo- seph G. Thompson, J. B. Case, John McCune, J. A. Newell, J. R. McHary, A. D. Simpson, A. G. Scott. A. HI. White, James Galiher, Jo- seph Scott. John B. Scott. Thomas C. Wilson, Isaac H. Bradford. Joseph Simpson. Samuel Paxton, Jasper Halsey, James McDonald, II. A. McDonald, John Holland.
Sixty-second Regiment O. V. I .- A. L. An- derson, Joshua Wright, W. C. Ramsey, George Jones.
One Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment O. V. I .- Jefferson McMillen, John McMillen, John Fell, Peter Hammond and his son Hammond, Benjamin Angell.
One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment O. N. G .. in Shenandoah Valley .- Commissioned officers : Captain, Matthias R. Trace ; First Lieutenant. Joseph Scott; Second Lieutenant. Adam L. Hammond; Sergeants, Robert M. Atchison, George Fell, John S. Duff, David W .- Ross. Thomas B. Glass ; Corporals, William Ham- mond, Adam L. McMichael, Washington N. Geyer, James A. Atchison, William Duff. Leon- ard Featherbee, John Davis, Jerome Waters : privates, Alexander Arneal, Adam N. Anderson. Joseph B. Bell, James H. Bell, Ephraim Barnett, James M. Bigger, John M. Baird, Isaac D. Bradford, William Caughy, William Cowden, James N. Cowden, Andrew G. Carns, Charles H. Emmach, Valentine H. Forsyth, Thomas M. Fisher, George Fisher, John W. Fisher, William Fell, Thomas J. Geyer, John Glass, Samuel J. Geyer, John Guthrie. Daniel G. Geyer. Matthias Hogseed, John T. Howell, Robert Jamison. An- drew G. McCall, David Martin, Matthew Mc- Neal. Robert Moorhead, James C. Moorhead. James M. C. Moorhead, Alexander McBride, William Marshall, William L. Miller, Alexander Maxwell, William McCormick, John Osler, Sam- uel Ramsey, Oliver Rankin. James Ramsey. Austin J. Starrett. Robert Scott, John B. Scott. William T. Smith, James McC. Smith, James M. Scott, Jacob Simpson, Thomas F. Shaw, James Trace, Daniel F. Trace, David G. Thomp- son, Thomas Vickes. Thomas H. Wilson. Jo- seph White, William Weyle, James Wilson, Ben- jamin B. White, Samuel C. Wortman.
Fifteenth Regiment O. V. I .- P. Patterson, John D. Patterson, Jacob Campbell, John Wil- son, David Wilson. James Wilson, James Gali- her, A. L. Hammond, Solomon Hammond, Al- bert Hammond, James Anderson. Samuel Guth- rie, Robert Thompson, William Guthrie, James Thompson, Samuel Thompson, John Thompson, James Paxton, James Case, Charles Simpson, Matthew Cherry.
Ninety-seventh Regiment O. V. I .- George Fell, George Bell, and George Wires.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
DERIVATION OF NAME-FIRST SETTLER-FIRST LOG HOUSE -- FIRST ORCHARD -- WA-KA-TOM-I-KA -INDIAN VILLAGES-PIONEERS-TOPOGRAPHY -SOIL-FORESTS-COAL-ANCIENT SCRIPTURE ON ROCKS-RESERVATION, FOR SCHOOL PUR- POSES-FIRST ROAD-BOUNDARIES OF TOWN- SHIP-OTSEGO. AND ITS DIRECTORY-FIRST OR- CHARD, AGAIN-FIRST TAVERN, OR HOTEL- FIRST FRAME HOUSE-STONE HOUSE - FIRST BIRTH-FIRST SCHOOL-METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-FIRST CEMETERY - FIRST DEATH- MILLS-DAM-FIRST MARRIAGE-MAYSVILLE M. E. CHURCH- TANNERY-PLEASANT VALLEY M. P. CHURCHI-PHYSICIANS-FIRST STORE-FIRST THRESHING MACHINE-BLACKSMITH-CARPEN- TER-OTSEGO BAPTIST CHURCH-OTSEGO PRES- BYTERIAN CHURCH-FIRST MOWING MACHINE- UNION CHAPEL M. P. CHURCH-FINE STOCK : HOGS, CATTLE. SHEEP.
This township was named for James Monroe. the fifth President of the United States, who was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, in 1758. His father's given name was Spence ; his moth- er's maiden name was Elizabeth Jones. He was educated at the College of William and Mary. and. immediately after leaving college, identified himself with the Colonists, in their struggle for freedom. It was the memory of this character- istic that induced the colonists of this township to choose him for their patron saint-and so they named the township Monroe.
The first settler in this region was Charles Marquand. who immigrated from the Island of Guernsey, France, and located on Wills creek, in the northwest corner of Monroe township, with his family. in 1810. John Marquand. his grandson, occupies a part of the old homestead. Charles Marquand built the first log house in the township : he cleared the first ground and set out the first orchard, which was on the northwest quarter of section one.
James Sprague came from Bedford county. Pennsylvania, and located at Wakatomika, Ohio. in 1802. In 1812, he, with his sons, Samuel. Jon- athan, and Elijah. cnt a road from Symmes creek to White Eyes creek. and to the Indian village that occupied the same site now occupied by the village of Otsego, and moved there in May. of that year. They planted corn on the site of the deserted village, but it did not ripen on account of early frost, and they were obliged to procure corn from Wakatomika for the first year's provis- ion. His first house was built on the northwest quarter of section thirteen. and was raised by him- self and family. At that time there was no land entered within the bounds of Monroe.
Jacob Bainter also came from Pennsylvania. and bought lots twenty-nine and thirty, of the " School Land," and located upon the same in 1812. Adam Bainter located on lots six and sev- en, of School Lands, at the same time.
John Stoner, also from Pennsylvania. settled on the southeast quarter of section thirteen, in the
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
year 1814. David Richardson came from Ver- mont in 1816, and bought Stoner's place. His wife, Mary, taught the first school in the neigh- borhood-in her own house. She died in 1880, in the ninety-second year of her age.
In 1817, Tunis Elson came from Pennsylvania, and settled upon the southeast quarter of section two, now owned by Decatur Buker. Jared Cone came from New England, and bought of James Sprague the northeast quarter of section thirteen. in the year 1813.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The territory comprising this township is situ- ated in the extreme northeast corner of Muskin- gum county. It is drained entirely by "White Eyes" creek, (so named in commemoration of the noted Indian by that name, who, notwith- standing he was indeed the white man's friend, was murdered by white men). The stream trav- erses it from the southwest to the northeast cor- ner. Wills creek just touches the northwest cor- ner of the township, and effects very little drain- age.
In the southern portion of the township, the hills are of comparatively easy ascent and de- scent, but the northern part is more broken. The soil is well adapted to some kinds of farming- generally a preponderance of sand, supplied from adjacent cliffs. There is need of skillful labor, and hence, as this is the price of good crops, the fields present an appearance of thrift. The fa- mous forests of southeastern Ohio are well repre- sented here, though not nurtured. Coal of good quality, and in apparently inexhaustible quanti- ties, is found here.
ANCIENT SCRIPTURE ON THE ROCKS.
On Robert Wilson's land are to be seen a num- ber of rocks engraved with characters not famil- iar to our people. They are believed to be chief- lv English letters.
When the Government surveyed this township. the southwest quarter was reserved for school purposes, and surveyed into one hundred acre lots, numbered from one to forty, commencing at the southeast corner of the four thousand acre tract, and ending on the northwest corner of the same.
The first road was made between Symmes creek and the present site of Otsego, by James Sprague and sons, in 1812. The first regularly laid out road was surveyed by Charles Roberts, in 1815, from James Lindley's. in Union town- ship, to the mouth of Wills creek. The next was from James Sprague's, in Monroe township, (then lligliland township). to Colonel John Reynolds' store, on the Wheeling road, in Union township, in 1817, by Joseph K. McCune, surveyor.
The County Commissioners, July 2d, 1819, de- fined the boundaries of Monroe township, as fol- lows: "Beginning on the northeast corner of Muskingum county, thence west to the line di- viding the sixth range ; thence south to the line dividing the second and third townships, in the sixth range ; thence cast to the county line : thence
north, with the county line, to the place of be- ginning."
The place of election for township officers was James Spragues'.
OTSEGO.
There is but one village in Monroe township. The site occupied by it was entered by James Sprague, in 1811, and afterwards sold to Moses Abbott and Francis Wires. In 1838, they pro- cured the services of James Boyle, the County Surveyor, and laid out the town. The eastern portion was laid out by Abbott, and the western portion by Wires. The town was named after Otsego, New York, by Dr. Alonzo DeLamater. It has never been incorporated. It is a desirable point for business, and contains a Methodist church (T. H. Scott, pastor) : a Baptist church : a postoffice, with A. V: P. Hager as Postmaster ; three physicians (named under the title of "first physicians") ; a hotel, by Joseph C. Miller, and another by Joseph C. Simmons : a general vari- ety store, by A. V. P. Hager. and one by Boyce & Cowden ; a drug store, by Dr. A. L. Jackson : a grocery, by Thomas H. Davis : shoe shop. by Thomas H. Davis ; blacksmiths-James T. Case and Isaac McGraw ; wagon shop, by John Ham- mond ; harness shop, by Marquis Norris : tan- nery, by Walker & Co. : a carpenter-Thomas Riney ; a cabinet maker. E. H. Bradford ; millin- ers-Catharine C. Wortman and Phoebe Riney : coal dealers-William and Alfred Smith. The village has twenty-seven houses, and one hundred and twenty inhabitants.
The first orchard in the township was set out by Charles Marquand. James Spragne and sons hauled a load of apple trees from Wakatomika. on a sled, through the woods, and set them out in the woods, where Otsego now stands. This was in April, 1812.
The first wagon was brought to the township by James Sprague, in 1812.
The first hotel, or tavern ( the latter term was more familiar), it is believed, was kept by David Richardson. He built the house now kept by Joseph C. Miller, about 1837. and "kept hotel." After him came George Hahn and Thomas Mil- ler, who kept tavern in a house erected upon lot nine, opposite the present store of .A. V. P. Hla- ger. This tavern was burned in 1870. and never rebuilt. In 1865. Joseph C. Simmons opened hotel on lot four, and ten years later moved upon a farm. In 1876, he again opened a hotel on lot fifteen, in Otsego, ( Abbott's part of same. )
The first frame house was built by Martin Rich- ardson, in 1813, on section nineteen, where Har- rison Honnold now lives. The first brick house was built by David Richardson. on the southeast quarter of section thirteen ( now owned by Caleb Buker), in 1819, and is still standing. The first stone house was built by Caleb Buker, and is oc- cupied by his son.
The first person born in the township was Levinia Sprague, daughter of James and Susanna Sprague. July 29. 1814.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Mary
61
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
Stoner, in her own house. Her husband brought her from Pennsylvania, and settled on the south- east quarter of section thirteen, in the year 1814, and she oped school soon after. The next school was taught by Mary Richardson, from Vermont, in 1816-17. She taught in her own house, one half mile south of Otsego, and had ten or twelve pupils, four of whom were living in 1880, viz : Samuel Sprague. Elijah Sprague, Frederick Bainter and John Bainter. The first school house built for that purpose was on the south- west quarter of section eight, now owned by Benjamin Bradford. This was in 1817.
The First Baptist church basement was also used for a school room.
There are now five good school houses, dis- tributed for the convenience of the township.
MILLS.
The first sawmill in the township was built by Martin Richardson, in 1817, on White Eyes creek, where Harrison Honnold now resides. The first gristmill was built by Tunis Elson, in 1819, on White Eyes creek, on the northwest quarter of section one. John Dill was the mill- wright. This mill did good service, although it had but one run of buhrs. About 1840, Messrs. McDonald and Achison became proprietors, and ran the mill four years, when it passed into the hands of H. and J. Bradford, who still own it.
A dam was built across Wills creek in the northwest quarter of section five, in the year 1819, by Charles and Peter Marquand, who then erected a sawmill, to be run by this power. but did not complete it until 1820. They built a carding and gristmill, which went into operation in the fall of 1829.
The carding mill was operated until 1850, when it ceased, and was started again during the war of the Rebellion, and run for about two years.
In 1867. J. M. Johnson became proprietor of the gristmill, which contained three runs of buhrs, and he continues to operate it.
Samuel Sprague built a sawmill in 1839-loca- tion not known-and sawed a large proportion of the lumber for the buildings in Otsego, at that time.
The first marriage was solemnized between Samuel Sprague and Mary Smoot, in Octo- ber, 1820.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first in the township. It was gathered together in 1816, by Jacob Young and Wm. Knox, who or- ganized the first class, which comprised the fol- lowing members : George Bainter and Lydia, his wife, and their son, John ; Ashfield Watrous and Elizabeth, his wife ; Samuel Sprague, Cath- arine Kelly, Miss Jack and Charles Marquand.
Charles Marquand was the Class Leader. Preaching occurred at the house of George Bainter.
This class was merged into the Methodist Protestant Church in 1828.
The first public graveyard was on Caleb Buker's place, south of Otsego. Francis Rich-
ardson was the first person buried there. in 1817.
The first death in the township was that of Timothy Watrous, in 1818. His daughter died about the same time, and they were buried where Walker's tannery now stands, and, after four years, they were taken up and buried in the Water's graveyard, situated on section ten.
Maysville Methodist Episcopal Church .- In the year 1822, Rev. J. P. Durbin, of the Zanes- ville circuit, organized a class at Hugh Ballen- tine's house, with the following members :
Hugh Ballentine, wife, Mary, and family : Wm. Clark, wife, Nancy, and family ; Charles Wilcox, wife, Nancy, and family. Meetings were held at Ballentine's house until 1848, when a church was built, on the northwest quarter of section five. This was a frame structure, 30x40. It was burned in 1854, and rebuilt, of the same size. in 1855, and is yet standing.
The maximum number of members was eighty. The present number is seventy-five. The pastor, Rev. J. Wilson, is of the East Plainfield circuit.
The Leaders are Charles Wilcox, August Erman, John Edwards, and A. Roderick. The Stewards are Simon Roderick and J. M. Johnson.
The first person buried in the graveyard. con- nected with this church, was Catharine Preston, in 1841.
Pleasant Valley Methodist Protestant Church .- This class was organized in 1828, or '29, by Rev's. Myers and Gibbons, and composed of the follow- ing members : James Holcomb and Electa, his wife ; Phineas Palmer and Margaret. his wife ; David Richardson and Mary, his wife: James Sprague and Susanna. his wife; Samuel Sprague, Elijah Sprague and Elizabeth, his wife. Phineas Palmer was Leader.
The first meeting house was built in 1835. It was a frame structure, 35x42, located on the site now occupied by the cemetery. It was removed in 1870, and the present edifice built by Thomas Riney. It is a neat and comfortable house, 28.x50, pleasantly situated, in the valley just north of the town of Otsego.
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