USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 76
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In general terms, this township is said to be in the southwest corner of Muskingum County. Its boundaries are as follows: On the north, by Springfield and a part of Hopewell townships ; on the east, by Brush Creek and a small portion of Springfield townships ; on the west, by Perry County.
The soil is generally fertile, and the region well watered. Jonathan's Creek is the principal stream, traversing the territory in a zig-zag course from the east, down below and up through the center, and out at the northeast corner, fer- tilizing and draining, with its south fork, a large area of the township ; to these add the net-work of tributaries-Buckeye Fork, Kent's Run, Thompson's Run, One Mile, Two Mile, Three Mile, and numerous other smaller tributaries, and it is found to be one of the best watered town- ships in the county.
The clay of this township has become noted for its excellence in pottery, and many are en- gaged in that industry.
The pioneer history is somewhat remarkable. This locality was a favorite resort of the Shaw- anese Indians, .game and fish being abundant. The first record of actual settlement,is that Jacob Smith entered the west half of section twenty- three, town fifteen. range fourteen, in 1797. He came from Bucks County, via Louden County, Virginia, and settled upon this land in 1802 ; his cabin was subsequently described as being one mile southwest of "Andrew Dugan's store :" his son John, now in his eightieth year of age, lives on the oldhome place ..
Andrew Crooks, born in Berkley County, Vir- ginia, in 1750, and Mary, his wife, of the same place, born in 1757, came to this region and set- tled on a part of section six, near the site now oc- cupied by Newtonville, in the year 1800. Ilis son George, now eighty-seven years old, lives on the "old home place." The same year, came also John Axline, from Bucks County, Pa., and settled on the southeast quarter of section thirty- four. George Crooks. John Smith and John Ax- line, are the three oldest of the pioneers now liv- ing.
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
In view of the few settlers mentioned, it would certainly excite the curiosity of the reader to be told that the anniversary of the Nation's birthday was celebrated in Newton township at this early period ; and yet such is the narrative detailed by "the oldest inhabitants" of to-day : and they add, "the celebration was in a grove, east of the place now known as Newtonville, on "the Nolan farm," where William Rankin now resides. There is a beautiful grove, and "ye hardy pio- neers" from the region round about, assembled and rejoiced, singing :
"Our father's God to thee- Author of liberty; To thee we sing, Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light, Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King."
The orator of the day, was Andrew J. Cop- land, of Zanesville. The Declaration of Inde- pendence was read by Joseph Monroe, a relative of James Mouroe, the fifth President of the United States. Everybody celebrated. There was a
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"feast of reason and a flow of soul," and it is said that many were almost too full for utterance. Those days of lang syne are cherished, with many a fond recollection, by George Crooks, John Axline, John Smith, and Mrs. E. Counce. the only known survivors.
In the fall of the year 1800, Andrew Crooks gave the use of a lot of ground on his place for a school house, and William McElree, a Scotch- man of rare practical sense, and thorough edu- cation, consented to become the teacher. This was a condescension, in view of the primitive state of architecture, and furnishing ; but then he was there as an adventurer, seeking his fortune, and accepted the situation ; and now, having en- tered upon the subject of schools, for conven- ience, we shall narrate what has been given to ns on this matter, at this time. "The school house up Buckeye," was built in 1800, and called by some, "the Springer School House," because it was built on Jacob Springer's place-the same now owned by S. D. Springer, south of Union- town. Timothy Wheeler was the first teacher, and was succeeded by Thomas H. Dalson. About this time, there was a school house on the Abbott place, half a mile east of the site now oc- cupied by Newtonville. Mrs. Rankin remem- bers attending this school, which was taught by John Matthews. When the creek was up, they had to cross on logs; at other times she rode on horseback, with a little sister in her lap and an- other on behind.
Daniel Poe taught school in "the old log cabin," on the Rankin place, in 1810. The fol- lowing persons are remembered as a part of "the class of 1820": Noah Tanner, James D. Wal- pole. Luke Walpole, and Mary Walpole.
The Uniontown School was organized in Ful- tonham in the year 1818.
The Lamb School House, a neat and substan- tial structure, was built near where the Crook's School House stood, and so named in honor of its principal patron. This institution of learning, in turn, gave way for the Walpole School House, on the old Athens road, about four miles east of Roseville. Contemporary with this school, was that on " the Maysville Pike," about one mile west of Newtonville, taught by George Spencer, deceased. Jonathan Hatcher, Jonas Burton, and Mrs. Eliza Rankin, attended this school.
The first common school was opened in Union- town, in 1848, and flourished until 1852, and was under the supervision of the Rev. William M. Ferguson, President of the School Board. The schools prior to this date, were known as sub- scription schools. With the inauguration of the free, or common school system, pay schools dis- appeared almost entirely. For our account of the common schools, the reader is referred to the annual report of the Superintendent of common schools of Muskingum County.
Jacob Baker, Benjamin Croy, Daniel Horn and Peter Fauley settled in this township about 1805.
In 1802. Dr. Kent came and located near where Newtonville is now ; he was a squatter ;
Kent's Run was named by him. What became of him, is not now known ; it is presumed he did not follow his profession, as Dr. Mathews, of Putnam, generally practiced here.
ELECTION DAY .- The first regular election, in Newton Township, was held at the house of Wil- liam Fellows, west of Newtonville, in the desig- nation of to-day. William Lawrence was the acting constable, and Jacob Crooks became the first Justice of the Peace. No record of these events has been found in the records in Zanes- ville, or in the township. Tradition further says, Isaac Carter was a Justice of the Peace in an early day, and William Anderson was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1823, and continued to serve in that capacity, about twenty years.
The township was organized, in the spring of 1802. Benjamin Redman, John Beckwith and Andrew Crooks were the first township Trustees, and Isaac Carter was the first clerk.
The first election after organization, was held in the house of Alexander Nolan, situated south- east of the site since occupied by Newtonville. Alexander Nolan was the first Justice of the Peace, and William McElree the first consta- ble.
There is no record of the organization of this township, or of the election, spoken of here, to be found in the County Commissioner's Journal. The earliest record of any kind by that body, was dated March 2d, 1807.
The present Trustees of Newton township, are Andrew Dugan, Marcellus Prince and Isaac Kraft.
THE FIRST TAVERN .- The public spirit of Andrew Crooks, induced him to extend his hos- pitality to the wayfarer, and his house became known as " Crook's Tavern, " as early as 1804. Six men and two women were present at " the raising" of this house, viz. : Henry Crooks, David Olive, Joseph Carpenter, Isaac Martin. Solomon Hodge, John Mathias, Peggy Carpen- ter and Mary Crooks. The accomodations of " the tavern," were plain and substantial. The floor furnished the bedstead, and wild beasts their skins for covering. The food was always palatable and plenty.
A traveler who so- journed with Mr. Crooks, was so favorably im- pressed, that he resolved to make his home at a neighborly distance, and thus the name of Chaun- cey Ford was added to the list of pioneers ; he located near Roseville, in 1804 ; his daughter-in- law, Mrs. J. I. Ford, informs the writer that there were no houses between there and Putnam, and that George Crooks cut a road from Powell's Mill to where he lived. Mr. Crooks continued to keep this tavern for nearly half a century ; he died in 1849, aged seventy-one.
The first store in the township was kept by Isaac James, on Jonathan's Creek ; date not known.
The first road was "cut in 1805, from Putnam to intersect the Zane Trace in Perry County, and passed through the township diagonally from the northeast corner to the southwest corner, or nearly so. George M. Crooks remembers that
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Dr. Increase Mathews laid out the road from Putnam to the bridge over Jonathan's creek, and that his father cut the road from Putnam to Perry county ; that the Indians used the Zane trail, which is a little south of this ; that the ma- jority of the red skins had gone in 1800, taking the direction of Sandusky, and that those re- maining, were Shawanese, and presumed they all were. 3 And that the Indians were friendly. If any of the "pale faces" were sick, the red man would go into the woods and gather herbs and roots for medicine for them, and always took a portion themselves before giving any to their white neighbor, to show that it was not poison- ous. Nor did they stop here, for they shared their game with the whites. ) Andrew Crooks was a hunter, and had hunters hired, and this, perhaps, had its influence, as it is common for men who follow the chase, to fraternize in this way. George Crooks remembers that game was so abundant that wild turkeys were killed with stones, it being deemed a waste of ammunition to shoot them. 1800
When Andrew Crooks came to Zanesville, there was but one house at Cambridge and one near Lancaster, and they were the homes of his nearest neighbors. His daughter, Nancy Crooks, was the first. white girl that came to Zanesville. He remembers that his uncle Hen- ry had his wife with him, and that they had no children. And when his mother came to New- ton township, she had not seen the face of a white woman for nine months. And that his parents came to this region on horseback, camp- ing at night, and turning their horses loose after belling them. His uncle Henry went west, while Jacob was sheriff, ( 1808-12). He remembers that William McCullock, who married the half- breed daughter of Isaac Zane, was killed during the war of 1812, "out west." And that there were no settlers here when Andrew Crooks came to Newton, ie., those who were here did not mean to stay, and called themselves squatters. Joseph Carpenter and Mathew Gillespie were of this class. and they moved off as the country settled. George M. Crooks was born May 9th. 1795, and was three years old when his parents arrived at Zanesville. Lewis Nye built the first hewed log house in this section, about 1809, on ground now a part of Newtonville. He cleared the first field and planted corn on section nine, in 1804, now the G. W. Rankin estate. Mrs. Eliza Rankin, consort of G. W. Rankin, de- ceased, whose maiden name was Nye; says her father and David Olive bought the half section that Jennings had entered, but could not pay for in the time allotted by the Government. David Olive died from the bite of a rattlesnake, the same year, (1804), and he had a coffin, a very unusual thing in this region in those days : people being buried, nearly always, in elm bark. lined with grass, and the ends stuffed with moss. This was the case with a man named Davis, and another, and a woman named Palmer, and three children, who came over the Falls in a canoe and were drowned, and were buried in elin bark slips.
The first grist and saw mill in this region was probably built by Moses Plummer, and was situated on Jonathan's creek, near the site more recently occupied by Crook's bridge, about one mile east of the site now Union Town. During 1807, James Jeffries had a mill, perhaps on the site now occupied by the C. & M. V. Railway station. A third mill was built about the same place in 1808, by Isaac and Caleb Jones. In 1812, the Crook's Mill was built, and the first Post Office in the township was kept there by Jacob Crooks, the proprietor. In 1818, Jacob Smith employed John Herrington to put up a saw mill for him, on the site occupied by the Jeffries mill. This mill was leased to Jolin Smith, in 1826, and it, too, was burned. Moses, Caleb, and Isaac Jones built a mill on the creek where Powell lives, about the year 1840.
The large and flourishing mill of Wells brothers, is on the site formerly occupied by the Crook's bridge.
During 1812, Jacob Funk, the blacksmith, opened his shop on a part of the site that became the nucleus of Union Town. He was a skilled workman, and made swords for the soldiery of "the war of 1812 ;" also made dies for printing scrip, a kind of money in common use in those days, and corresponding to the " shin-plasters " of later times. During this year also, another son of Vulcan set up his anvil in the new settle- ment, and Jacob Funk had a rival in William Bash. These worthies rang out their anvils in chorus, early and late, and forged for the deni- zens of the distant forests, as well as the villages. Thomas Brown started his fire in 1838. Gabriel Keys, a pioneer blacksmith in Newtonville, is regarded a good workman, in spite of his weight of years.
The whiskey mills were an institution second only in importance to the flour mill, in the esti- mation of "ye pioneer." John Leonard and . Anthony Mauk are said to have been the first in this region to engage in the manufacture of whiskey. Jacob Crooks had a " distillery " near Union Town in 1815: J. M. Adams was his "First Lieutenant." John Watermire had a " worm " on his place about the same time.
There is no account of any revenue derived from this business, and it is probable they paid' no tax. On dit, that whiskey was purer and cheaper then than now.
THE FIRST TANNERY.
The first tannery was built by Benjamin Red- man, who came in 1810. It was located just west of the bridge over Jonathan's creek.
John Hendricks established his tanyard on Jonathan's creek, near Uniontown, "in an early day." His son. Thomas A., became Governor of Indiana.
OLD TIME'S VISITS.
In this, as in every abode of men, there were shadows, as well as sunshine : and it seems trite to say more than that there never was an Eden "old Time" did not enter with his scythe, even
1
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among the fairest flowers, and so it came to pass that the necessity was felt that a regular ceme- tery be set apart. It was located on Benjamin Croy's place, on Buckeye.
The first person buried there, was Peter Fau- ley, in May, 1815 ; the second interment was Peter Crooks, in June, of the same year.
THE FIRST BIRTHIS.
The first births in Newton township, were, a son to Joseph Carpenter, in 1804, and one to John Crooks, March 30th, 1806.
Porter & Hook opened a store near Crook's bridge. in 1813 or 1814. G. W. Rankin started a store, on the Rankin place, in 1838. This was the first store in Newtonville.
The first salt well was bored by Mr. S. Len- hart, in 1815, a little south of the site now occu- pied by Uniontown, and demonstrated that salt could not be made there in paying quantities.
Uniontown was laid out by John Porter and Henry Hummell, in 1815. The first store, and tavern, were kept by John Porter. Several houses had been built on the site, before the vil- lage was laid out.
UNIONTOWN DIRECTORY, 1881.
Blacksmiths-C. H. H. Panmore, D. Phillips, J. W. Pherson. E. Rudolph.
Boot and shoe makers-A. R. Keyes, Henry Zeigler.
Carriage and wagon makers-Jasper Willison, Thomas O'Neil.
Drugs and fancy goods-C. B. Fanley, Bugh & Carter. ₽
Dry goods-Fauley & Breckbill.
Groceries-"Sep" Axline.
Physicians-John Watkins, E. Van Atta, J. C. Axline.
Churches-Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Pres- byterian.
Academy-Fultonham Academy.
Societies-Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows ; Muskingum Lodge, No. 368, F. and A. M.
The Zanesville "Express," of September 23d, 1818. contains the following advertisement :
"WOOLEN MILLS, OR CLOTHIERS' WORKS.
"The subscriber informs the public that his clothiers' works are in operation, on Jonathan's creek. being the works formerly owned by John Harrington, and now by John Slack-about four miles from Zanesville.
"He will receive cloth at the houses of An- drew Crooks, Jacob Crooks, David Tipton, Levi Chapman. and at my house, in Putnam, to which places the cloth will be returned, when dressed ; having such a stock of dye-stuff, and workmen who so well understand the business, as to be able to form every color desired.
"He will receive wheat, rye, corn, oats, flax- seed, beans, etc., in payment.
"S. H. RAYMENTON."
Newton Township, Sept. 23, 1818.
Newtonville is situated near the site of the old log school-house. The limits have since been extended so as to take that site in, and it is now occupied by a neat, frame, school building.
The first store kept in this town, was by A. Weller & Co., about 1852. This site is now oc- cupied by the general store, and postoffice, kept by Andrew Wilson Dugan, who, for the last ten years, has met the wants of the community, in merchandise, and, as Postmaster, has become so favorably known.
Mr. A. Keves, the venerable blacksmith, came here and built his fire, some thirty years ago, and is now assisted by his son, who is also Town- ship Clerk.
J. C. Gillespie, a native of this township, has lived about sixty years amid the scenes of his childhood, esteemed by all who know him. James Llewellyn, his cotemporary, shares the confidence of the people with him.
The present population of Newtonville is about two hundred.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is ably sup- plied by Rev. A. Rickets. and, attached to the church, is a flourishing Sunday School.
William Rankin and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, parents of George Rankin, of Newtonville, came from Ireland, and settled near the town of later period, in 1820. That they were lured to come by the glowing descriptions of their American Paradise, is not improbable, as perhaps no re- gion in Southeastern Ohio was more beautiful ; and to this he added the enthusiastic admiration for American freedom which thrills, especially, those who have once known the absence of it in their natal home. But it is more likely that their affection for their children, whom they followed to this country, dominated every other sentiment. And this whole-heartedness soon made him pop- ular in his new home, where, in 1830, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and filled that office several terms. He died in 1848, at the advanced age of eighty. His widow and sons, Grafton and Charles, moved to Barnesville, where she died.
POTTERY.
The first pottery, for stone-ware, was started in 1814, by Jacob Rosier, on a place now owned by - Rankin. The next was started by A. Ensminger, about 1828. In 1874, Harrison Sut- tle started a pottery in Newtonville, running three wheels.
The pottery of Joseph Rambo is situated in the extreme northwest corner of Newton town- ship, near Gratiot road, and was built in 1863, at an expense of about four hundred dollars, in- cluding the shop and kiln. Mr. Rambo has had to employ an average of three hands, including himself. The average number of gallons of pottery made, per year, has been about forty thousand, worth, in the market, from three and one-half to eight cents per gallon. The kinds of ware made consist of jugs, jars, pans, and churns, and they are remarkable for durability, neatness of pattern, and finish.
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The clay will also make a superior fire-brick. Mr. Rambo has some in his grate that has stood well for ten years.
GOSHEN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Goshen Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1830, by Rev. John Goshen, assist- ed by Rev. Morris Chandler. Among the mem- bers were Amos Reese, Nehemiah Bell, John Hoover, L. Adamson, B. Dezelem, John Rose, Jacob Mauk, Edward Rose, Jonas Burton, Mrs. Vicars, Mrs. Lydia Stokely, and Susan Warner.
The society erected a hewed log house of wor- ship in 1835, thirty-five by forty feet, on Mt. Goshen, five miles east of Koseville, on the Athens road.
The following is as nearly a correct list of those who have served this church in the min- istry as memory will afford :
Rev. J. Gilruth, James Gurley, Samuel Ham- ilton, J. D. Chase and L. Douty.
From the date of organization up to the time of the formation of "The Bell Church" on Brush Creek, in 1848, and the church at Rose- ville in 1846. the Goshen Church prospered, but soon after these subtractions it began to wane, and in 1852 the conference decided to disband the society, and it was merged into other churches.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Union- town was organized about 1830, by the Rev's. Samuel Hamilton and James Gilruth. Among the members at this time were Henry Roberts, Isaiah Gardner, John Bowers, Jonathan Hatcher, Judge John McElhaney, and their families.
They worshiped from house to house, and in school houses, until 1840, when they erected a commodious frame structure-rather hastily- just after a camp meeting, which stood until an- other more substantial and suitable was built, in 1875 ; and recently they have built a new church, with a cupola and bell.
Rev's, I. Longman and M. V. B. Bing were associate pastors in 1848, and Rev. James Jami- son the Presiding Elder. The present preacher in charge is Rev.B. F. Thomas. The membership is about eighty. There has always been a Sun- day School connected with the church.
The first cemetery in Uniontown was formally set apart for the purpose in 1830; and the first person buried there was Thomas Hardy, May 19, 1835.
Andrew Dugan started his tannery in 1835, and is still in the business. And during this year Caleb Hitchcock started his store; it was where Jolin Ungemach lives.
Stofel Lenhart started a saw mill, a little soutli- west of Newtonville, in 1835. The mill was owned by Alfred Mathews in 1860; he then sold it, moved to Putnam and died, the same year.
The Uniontown Baptist Church was organized July 2, 1842, by Rev. Levi Sigfred. The Dca- cons elected at that time were Benjamin Moore and William Moore. The membership numbered eighteen. The trustees were Ezra Madden, E. B. Lake and Benjamin Moore. Rev. W. Dan-
iels is the present pastor, and Ezra Madden and K. W. Moore are the Deacons. The present number of communicants is about fifty. They have a neat frame church, thirty-five by forty-five, thirteen feet high, with cupola fifty feet high, from the ground, and a good bell. The trustees are at present E. B. Lake, Emmanuel Bough and W. Moore.
The Presbyterian Church of Uniontown was organized, by Rev. H. C. McBride, November 28, 1848, with about twenty-eight members. Samuel Milhouse and John Reed were chosen Ruling Elders, and John Smoch was elected Deacon. Rev. H. C. McBride solicited and obtained about six hundred dollars, (traversing parts of six counties), to purchase a lot and erect a church in Uniontown, which was accomplished within a year from the date of organization. About this time, Rev. Wm. Ferguson came to the church, and a neat little house of worship (35x45) was erected under his superintendence. Rey. M. A. Beamer is the present Pastor. Wm. Carter and J. Wilkins are the Elders, and D. Hugins and James Slach are the Deacons. The membership numbers forty seven.
This township was united with the world at large, by the advent of the Cincinnati and Mus- kingum Valley Railroad, which, passing through, opened its station in 1853, and with " the rest of mankind," the following year, by telegraph, introduced by that company.
The Dunkards built a church on Mount Goshen, four miles east. of Roseville, in 1860. John Roberts was a zealous member of that de- nomination, and preached at his own house a long time before the church was built. Elijah Horn, John Stoneburner, old Mrs. Horn. John Roberts and wife, and Manley Roberts, were among the early members.
John Roberts died from injuries received by his horses running away, while he was hauling lumber.
The Dunkard Church was built by subscrip- tion in the community, and was to be free for all Christian Denominations, when not used by the Dunkards ; this condition was set forth in the subscription paper : but as Mr. Roberts died be- fore the meeting house was completed, and it was finished by Elijah Horn, this provision was ignored, Mr. Horn refusing to permit other de- nominations to use it. and it is now a solitary monument of the existence of that peculiar people.
The Methodist Protestant Church was organ- ized in 1865, by Rev. John Burns, in the Powell School House, with the following members : Jeremiah Springer and wife, Josephus Powell and wife, Mrs. Mary Hall, Charlotte Hall, and others whose names are not remembered at this time, and as no record was made of the event we are constrained to this meagerness, for want of suffi- cient witnessing in other details. The society erected a neat frame house of worship. thirty- five by forty-five feet, having a cupola with bell in it : the church was located in the beautiful grove near Powell's mill, on the Roseville road.
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