USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 83
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
The following persons served as class leaders from the beginning :
Stephen Schafer, James Smith,John Wall, Jas. B. Smith. James McJurekin, Jonathan Collins, Turner Wolf, and John Gray.
A Sabbath-school was organized soon after the class, and numbered thirty scholars enrolled. The superintendents have been, Stephen Schafer, James Smith, John Wall, Robert Bailey, Turner Wolf. Washington Reed, and James Wall, the present incumbent. The present enrollment is fifty.
[CERTIFICATE .- John Wall certifies this to be the best account of the church and Sunday school that can be produced at this age of the world.]
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist Church, otherwise denominated the Washington Township Baptist Church, was composed of a membership drawn from the church in Salem township. In 1842, a petition was presented to the Salem church, asking leave to organize a church in the township in which the petitioners lived, which was Washington. The petition was signed by the following per- sons : Samuel Barstow, A. H. Woodruff, Sr., Robert Combs, Amy Presgrave, James Miller, W. H. Barstow, A. H. Woodruff, Jr., Elga Combs, Mary Leach, Mary Cobb, Harriet Bate-
man, Elizabeth Mears, Sarah Calahan, Willis Barstow. William Leach, Penrod Bateman, Elizabeth Bateman, John Bateman, Lemote Menefee, Jacob Slack, Hosea Woodruff, Margaret Ferrell, Ann P. Hunter,
Peter Mears, Samuel Barstow, Jr., Martha Wood- ruff, George Barstow, Mary Balent. Mary A. Michael, Mary Barstow, Elizabeth Zett, Ann Hickman, Mary J. Dunmead, Mary D. Dun- mead, William Mears, Mary Martin, Britannia Presgrave, George Presgrave.
The petition was granted, and the new asso- ciation thus formed built and consecrated a church in 1843, Rev. William Sedgwick being their pastor. He was assisted at this time by Rev. R. H. Sedgwick. The first clerk was George Presgrave. Soon after the church was organized, a Sabbath School was organized, with Samuel Barstow as Superintendent ; the school has been kept up and became an import- ant adjunct of the church.
WASHINGTON CHAPEL.
The Methodist Episcopal Church having this name, is located on the farm of Thompson Ha- gue, one and one-half miles north of Coaldale. This society met in the Woodruff, or Barstow school house, until the erection of their present church edifice in 1848. Two of the class leaders fol- lowing the formation of the society, were Isaac Franks and William Catlin. The various pas- tors who have filled the pulpit are as follows : Rev's. Wyrick, D. P. Mitchell, Robert Boyd, I. N. Macabee, Hamilton, Henry Snyder, Hus- ton, Hare, N. C. Worthington, Evans, Hugh Edwards, McCormick, Hatfield, Knowles, Web- ster, J. Q. A. Miller, Phillips, Anderson, Knight, Raider, and Hoover, the present incumbent.
The following named have been some of the more prominent members : Job Morgan, Jacob Walters, William McCashland, Albert Jones, Joel Jones, Robert Jones, Jonathan Malox, and Joseph H. Bowers. The present church is a neat frame building, 28x40. It was built by contributions of both material and labor, so that its cost can not be ascertained. When the church was built, it had a membership of twenty or twenty-five. At the present time, there are not more than fifteen members. As high as ninety- one members have been connected at one time with the society since its organization.
Previous to 1877, a flourishing Sunday School was connected with the church. Since that date, there has been none. The average attendance of scholars, used to be about sixty. The Super- intendents have been, Isaac Franks, Robert Jones, Peter Huffman, Josiah Keys and William McCashland.
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This society first worshiped in a log house, situated on land leased of David Shick, in 1863, and who, in reality, donated the use of the land for thirteen years, receiving the least compensa- tion known in law, the sum of one dollar, thus reserving his title to the site. This was on the
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
375
farm of Jesse Romine, Jr., one mile north of Jackson. The old church was torn down in 1876 and the present frame edifice erected, at a cost of $650.00, of which $400.00 was assumed by Samuel Shick.
In the early part of the church struggles, the membership numbered twenty-five, and it is now about double that.
The present church was dedicated by Rev. -Reck. The regular pastors have been Rev's. George Linsibaugh, William M. Gilbreath, Lo- gan Gilbreath, John Bocker, George Shrieves. Among the prominent members "in an early day," were Samuel Shick, John Hetzel, Allen Dunn, James McGee and Mrs. Elizabeth Hetzel.
ST. JOHN'S UNION SUNDAY SCHOOL.
St. John's Union Sunday School was organ- ized prior to the formation of the church, in 1863, in the same cabin in which St. John's Lutheran Church worshiped. And it followed the fortune of the church, being, as all Sunday Schools truly are, a feeder to the church. The school is prosperous ; the number of scholars enrolled is forty. The Superintendents have been Samuel Shick, James McGee, David Shick, A. Martin, Mrs. Maggie Shick, Miss Katie Boggs and John Mitzlett.
MILITARY RECORD OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP'.
The perils of war are never courted, no matter how bravely men may talk. Yet no danger ever deterred the pioneer settlers of Washington from taking down their " fire-locks," when the enemy appeared near their borders. Indeed, many a time they had gone in quest of the red skins, who trespassed on the rights of their neighbors. And up to the close of the war of 1812, our pio- neers were often under arms, and many of them laid their lives on the altar of sacrifice for their country. It is therefore to be regretted that a complete list of those who thus struggled for the liberties we enjoy, cannot now be given. The following persons are known to have been of that honored number :
Jacob Walters, John Walters, John Vernon, Jacob Slack, Benjamin Walters, Henry Mitchler. George Slack, John Bowers, George Cullen. George Swank, and Robert Boggs.
We are indebted to Elizabeth Boggs, relict of Capt. Robert Boggs, for this list of names. Mrs. Boggs was a hale lady of eighty-two in 1880- doing her own work, and sometimes walked to Zanesville and back, a distance of ten miles, and did not complain.
William McConnell was also a Captain of this company, but we have no other information con- cerning him.
The patriot spirit descended from sire to son, and accordingly, when the war of the rebellion became a horrid fact, and the cry, to arms ! rang out o'er the land, it was heard in Washing- ton township, and everywhere they responded, " here am I, send me!" They marched to the field at their country's call. For the sake of the
firesides made desolate, and to emulate the ex- ample of the surviving heroes, we would like to present their names, but have to content our- selves with the Regimental Rosters, which do not specifically locate the home of the soldiers ; and we do not wish to offer even a complement that may be doubted.
Washington township lies north-east of Zanes- ville, and is intersected by the Central Ohio Rail- road.
GEOLOGY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
The following geological section, was taken at Coal Dale and Rocky Point, in this township :
Feet. Inches.
1. Shale ..... ...
...
2. Coal
3
0
3. Not exposed. 24
0
4. Siderite ore 0
6
5. Coal 2
9
6. Under clay .... 4
()
7. Not exposed. 13
0
8. Laminated sandstone 12
0
9, Heavy sandstone. 36
0
10. Coal blossom
...
11. Siderite
0
10
12. Putnam Hill limestone .. 5
13. Not exposed
0
14. Laminated sandstone. 10
0
15. Shale 25
0
16. Cherry limestone 1
0
17. Slaty cannel coal ... 0
4
18. Not exposed 18
0
20. Limestone 0
10
21. Shaly limestone.
1
22. Limestone, fossiliferons 1
6
23. Sandy shale
In the above section. Nos. 4. 5. and 6. were seen near Coal Dale, and the rest of the section at Rocky Point. In the slate over the upper coal, fine chonetes and other fossils, changed to pyrite, are found at Matthew's coal bank. in the north part of this township.
The following geological section was taken near the line between the corporate limits of Zanesville and Washington Township. The upper part, containing the Alexander coal-seam. was taken on the land of D. Hart :
Port. Inches.
1. Coal reported .. .... 1 0
2. Clay
G
3. Laminated sandstone and shale 40
=
4. Coarse sandstone .. 10
5. Finely laminated sandstone and shale 30
(
6. Coal
3
7. Clay
8. Laminated sandstone .. 0)
9. Siderite ore .. 0
10
10. Shale, bituminous 0
11. Coal
The following geological section was obtained
=
19. Blne sandy shale .. S
376 .
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
on the land of Wm. Alexander, on Lot 119, Washington township :
Feet. Inches.
1. Shale 8
0
2. Slaty coal 0
10
3. Clay . 0
2
. 4. Coal 5
0
5. Clay
2
0
6. Sandy limestone. 1
0
The coal has a good reputation for household use, and is extensively used along the line of the National road .- [Geological Report, 1873, volume I, pp. 329-330-1 ; E. B. Andrews, Assist- ant Geologist. ]
In the geological report of the State of Ohio, vol. 3, page 250, we find the following :
At Wharton's coal works, and at Coal Dale, about two and one-half miles from Zanesville, we have the following section exposed :
Feet.
1. Sandstone
0
2. Coal.
1
3. Sandstone
12
4. Coal No. 6
4
5. Sandstone ...
18.35
6. Coal No. 5.
33.4
7. Sandstone. 50
Coal number six, only, is mined here, as num- ber five yields a coal of too poor quality to be marketable. Near this locality, a cannel coal, probably coal number four, is seen in the bed of the creek, and is eighteen inches thick. The two beds, six and five, are seen on the property of Moses Robinson, and on that of Messrs. Fisher and Mangold, near the Adamsville road. They are each three and one-half feet thick, but the upper one alone is now worked. Number five was formerly mined by stripping, on Mr. Robinson's property, near the school house.
About eight miles north from Zanesville, Mr. David Matthews' mines coal No. 6, which shows :
Feet.
Inches.
1. Slaty Coal 0 4-6
2. Coal
3
4
3. Clay.
0)
2
4. Coal
0 4
4
The coal above the parting is very pure, and makes an excellent coke, very compact. and handsome. Two coking ovens were in use at the time of examination, and two more were be- ing built. Below the parting, the coal is very poor, and often it is two-thirds pyrites. Streaks of pyrites occur occasionally in the coal above, but are very thin. and not extensive. Mr. Mat- thews ships about sixteen hundred tons per month. A specimen of his coal yields the fol- lowing :
Specific gravity 1.318
Moisture 3.10
Volatile combustible matter 37.50
Fixed carbon
56.50
Ash
2.90
Sulphur. Total 100 00
3.02
Sulphur remaining in coke.
1.48
Sulphur forming in coke ...
2.49
Fixed gas per pound, in cubic foot 3.56
Character of coke ...
Compact Color of ash
Fawn.
A short distance further up the river, on the property of Mr. L. Menefee, the following sec- tion was obtained :
Feet.
Inches.
1. Shale and sandstone partly concealed .... 60
0
2. Coal No. 6 .:
3
6
3. Fire-clay and shale. 15
0
4. Iron ore. 3
0
5. Shale 7
30
0
7. Coal No. 5
0
4
8.
Shale ..
30
0
9. Sandstone
25
0
10. Iron ore ..
1-4
0
12. Coal No. 4
0
7
13. Shale ....
25
0
14.
Blue cherty limestone.
1
6
15. Shale . 2 0
16. Coal No. 3
1
10
17. Sandstone .. 10 0
18. Blue limestone
1
0
19. Coal No. 3 ..
0
10
Coal number six, shows the following sec- tion :
Feet. Inches.
1. Cannel coal
0
6
2. Coal
1 10
3. Clay
0
2
4, Coal
1
0
Mr. Menefee claims that the bed is entirely free from pyrites, and that neither streaks nor nodules have ever been seen. The entry has been driven only forty feet, and has hardly reached sound coal, so it would be injudicious to speak positively in this connection. The coal is quite pure, shows little tendency to break up on exposure, and exhibits no incrustation of copperas on the outcrop. Fifteen feet below the coal is a bed of iron ore three feet thick. containing about eighteen inches of what has been pronounced an excellent ore. A specimen was procured for analysis, but, unfortunately, has been mislaid. At the time this locality was visited, Mr. Mene- fee was negotiating for the sale of this bed to a Zanesville firm, at a royalty of thirty cents per ton. The deposit is evidently extensive, as it was traced from this point east, and north, through the township to the opening in coal num- ber six, belonging to Mr. White, on the Adams- ville road. The horizon is one at which ore is found at numerous localities throughout the coal field in the State, and the deposit here merits careful attention.
This is the most northerly point at which coal number five has been seen in the county: nor, indeed, has it been seen east or west of this town- ship. Though identifying this bed with coal number five, of the State section, I doubt the propriety of so doing, especially as there is no associated rock by which to prove its identity. It would seem more probable that it is an intercal- ated bed, if one may judge from its sudden origin, and expansion. It is absent over a greater part of Muskingum and Guernsey counties, in localities where both numbers six and four can be recognized without a doubt. Coal number four is of no importance, and was observed at no.
0
6. Sandstone
3
0
11. Gray limestone.
-
VIERCHAN
ORING
LEMEST & FRAMMAR.
THE above cut represents the building occupied by Lemert & Brammar, Merchant Tailors, Dresden, Ohio. They keep constantly on hand a good sup- ply of foreign and domestic piece goods, from which they can suit the most critical, and furnish the most indigent with custom-made clothing, They are generous in prices, and genteel in their way of dealing. One particular feature that de-
mands the patronage of all, is that they can fit as neatly and artistically as can be done in the large cities, and always in the latest styles. They solicit the patronage of all, and feel sure that when once received they will retain it, and customers will not go elsewhere for either goods or well made and well fitting garments.
:
377
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
other locality. Here it consists of cannel, three inches ; bituminous coal, four inches.
Coal number three, though here only twenty- two inches thick, becomes thirty inches at an- other point about a mile east from Mr. Menefee's, where it is worked. It is highly esteemed by some, as it makes a cheerful fire. A layer of bi- tuminous coal, three inches thick, is found at the bottom.
The limestones are all blueish. The gray limestone is apt to be shaly, is less tough, and more granular than those below. It has been used successfully as a flux. The middle lime- stone is cherty, with the flint irregularly distrib- uted through it. Near Mr. Matthews' coal works, the limestone is absent, being replaced by the flint. The ore, so well marked in Madi- son, Jackson, Licking, and Muskingum, is ab- sent here, or rather is only traceable by means of a few scattered nodules accompanying the chert. The ore resting upon the gray limestone is of no value, being imbedded in sandstone. The sandstones along the river, between numbers six and four are compact, and would doubtles be ex- cellent for building purposes.
Coal number seven, was seen at only one point. It is seventy-five feet above number six, and is not more than nine inches thick. South of the Central Ohio Railroad it is mined exten- sively, and is four to five feet thick.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
WIIO THE MELODIES OF MORN CAN TELL ?-- "'YE PIO- NEER"-PUBLIC ROAD- SALT WORKS-BLACK- SMITH-SCHOOLS-FORMATION OF THE TOWN- SHIP-ELECTION ""VIVA VOCE" DECLARED ILLE- GAL-ELECTION 1827 - TOPOGRAPHY - FIRST FRAME HOUSE-FIRST BRICK HOUSE- "BETH- ESDA" M. E. CHURCH-FAIRVIEW M. E. CHURCH -THE FIRST SAW MILL-ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHI-ADAMS TOWNSHIP BAP- TIST CHURCH.
" But who the melodies of morn can tell ? The wild brook babbling down the mountain side; The lowing herd, the sheep fold's simple bell ;
The pipe of early shepherd dim deseried, In the lone valley ; echoing far and wide, The clamorous horn along the cliffs above;
The hollow murmur of the ocean tide,
The hum of bees, the linnet's lay of love, And the full choir that wakes the universal grove?"
"Ye pioneer," enamored with the music of the babbling stream. or the feathered songsters over- head, had no temptation for the formalities of life, beyond the needful duties of the field and home, and passing his life as a soliloquy, ever formulating a dreamful similitude to natures art- less arts, deigned not to record the doings of either : and hence the absence of any chronicle indicating who the first visitors of this paradise were.
The first settlers who were of "a different make up," were James Wilcox, David Brellsford
and Hugh Ballentine. They settled on Wills Creek, in the northeast corner of the present township of Adams, about 1810. It is thought that Benjamin Whitabury, with his step-sons, John and William Campbell, came about the same time. Abraham Wisecarver came and located on the northwest quarter of section eighteen, about 1814. Caleb Bedwell, Samuel Monroe, Robert Osborn and William Barton, are remembered as early settlers.
Valentine Shirer, from Pennsylvania, settled on the northwest quarter of section sixteen, in the year 1817, and Anthony Slater settled on the northeast quarter of section twenty-one, in 1818. These are the oldest citizens living.
The most important event that aided in the settlement of the township, was a public road. The first road cut through Adams township, was from the settlement on Symmes' Creek to Otsego, in Monroe township. James Sprague and sons cut this road, in 1812. The next was a road sur- veyed from Cambridge, in Guernsey county. to the salt works at the mouth of Will's Creek. that ran through Adams township. This was in 1818. And another, from the vicinity of the locality now occupied by Adamsville, to Marquand's Mill, about 1820.
Observing the chronological order of events adopted in this work, the next event was to pre- pare for the education of the children.
The first school house stood on land belonging to Emanuel Minnick, near the site occupied by the town house of to-day. The first teacher was William Jennison, from New England. who taught school here in 1820. He was succeeded by Thomas Barclay. There are now four schools in the township. The school houses are all frame and in good condition, supplied according to the custom of our common school system.
The first marriage in the township was prob- ably solemnized between David Shirer and Lydia Gaumer, in 1822.
THE FIRST BLACKSMITH.
The first blacksmith was David Brellsford. His shop was on section two. This was in 1810. Phineas Tomlinson had a fire and made the sparks fly "in an early day."
THE FORMATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
"A petition , was presented by Caleb Jordan. signed by a number of citizens of Madison and Monroe townships, setting forth that they labor under many difficulties and disadvantages in con- sequence of the distance they have to travel to elections, and praying that a township may be set off of part of Monroe and Madison townships. and the Commissioners believing the praver of the petitioners necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and township officers, do hereby order a new township, to be set off according to the following boundaries. to-wit : Beginning at the northeast corner of Salem township line, and running thence west along said line to the north- west corner of said township, thence north to Coshocton county line, thence east to the north-
51
378
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
west corner of the original survey of township number three, in the fifth range, thence south to the place of beginning : comprising the original surveyed township number three, in the sixth range, Military Land, which shall constitute a new township, to be called Adams township. Also ordered by the Commissioners, that an election be held at the house of Caleb Jordan, Esq., on the Ist day of January next, being January Ist, 1827, to elect township officers for the township.
"December 5th, 1826."
Accordingly, the voters congregated at the house of Caleb Jordan, which was on the south- east quarter of section fourteen, and elected, viva voce, a full set of officers, except Justices of the Peace. Caleb Jordan was, at that time, Justice of the Peace in Madison, and Anthony Slater. Justice in Monroe, (both included in the new township).
This election, however, was declared null, as "viva voce" was not the legal mode of voting, and a new election was ordered. The place ap- pointed was the house of John Campbell, on the northwest quarter of section eighteen, near the present town house, to take place on the 2d day of April, 1827. James Wilcox, Anthony Slater and Jesse Roe, were appointed Judges of elec- tion, and Caleb Jordan, Clerk. The election re- sulted as follows :
Town Clerk-Caleb Jordan.
Trustees-Anthony Slater, James Wilcox, and Benjamin Whitebury.
Overseers of Poor-Abraham Wisecarver, and David Ross.
Fence Viewers-Jacob Sturtz and Powell Chrisman.
Treasurer-John Campbell.
Constables-John Shanafield and John Mullen. Supervisors-David Swiger, Thomas Green, Francis Titus, and Robert Brown.
The first Grand Juror was Jesse Roe ; the first Petit Juror was Matthew Humphrey.
The election of 1829 was held at the house of Adam Miller, afterwards alternating between private houses and school houses, until 1876, when a Town House was built, on the northeast quarter of section eighteen, on land belonging to Mary Stewart.
The following persons have served as Justice of the Peace, according to the dates affixed to their respective names ; dates abbreviated :
Anthony Slater, Oct. 7, '26; Caleb Jordan, Oct. 28, '26 ; Samuel Sutton, Oct. 22, '35 ; Wil- liam Willis, Oct. 17, '38 ; John Briels, Oct. 23, '38: Anthony Slater, Oct. 20, '41 ; J. H. Bar- clay, Oct. 16, '44 ; George Wertz, Oct. 26, '47 ; Robert Haesty, April 15, '50; Caleb Jordan, Oct. 19, '50; James Vandervert, April 18, '53 ; Henry Stewart, Nov. 4, '53 ; John Darner, Oct. 27, '56; Thomas Pitcher, Oct. 26, '59; H. V. Slater, Oct. 23, '71 ; John Ross, April 11, '72 ; Henry Stewart, April 11, '72; John Darner, April It, '75 ; W. S. Bell, April 11, '75 ; W. H. Ruse, April 12, '78; G. W. Bell, April 12, '78.
The present Township Board (1880) is com- posed as follows :
Trustees-V. J. Thresh, John R. Bell, and HI. V. Slater.
Constable-George Stiner.
Treasurer-Michael Sauer.
Assessor-William Fisher.
Land Appraiser and Clerk-G. W. Bell.
Board of Education-Joseph Stiner, G. R. Shirer, John Briel, and John R. Bell.
Supervisors-Wm. McCormick, John Hahn, Charles Schmueser, A. W. Bell, Michael Sauer, George McDowell, George Ripple, William Ed- wards, and David Knicely.
Judges of Election-V. J. Thresh, John R. Bell, and Jacob H. Hanks.
Adams township was named after John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, born at Braintree, Massachusetts, on the 11th of July, 1767. His character was formed under the ennobling influences of a cultured home, and developed amid rare social and literary advan- tages. The influence of his parents is apparent in the development of his moral and intellectual nature, and it is altogether likely a better Patron Saint could not have been found.
TOPOGRAPHICAL.
The township is skirted on the north by Wills creek, and the northern portion is broken and rough. The southern part is more even, and sim- ilar to Salem. Wills creek drains the northern, and Symmes creek the southern and western portions. Coal is found accessible with but little mining, in several parts of the township, and the usual varieties of forest trees, but not in large quantities.
The soil is clay and sand. the latter predomi- nating in the low lands, and is generally fertile, especially under the tillage of the industrious German farmer, in the northern part, who thor- oughly cultivates his land.
The first frame house was built by Willlam Barton-no date.
The first brick house was built in 1834, by Jacob Gaumer, Jr., on the southwest quarter of section twenty-three, and is now occupied by G. W. Bell, Esq.
Anthony Slater introduced the first threshing machine, and the first mower, into this township.
There are no thoroughbred cattle in this town- ship, although there are some fine "grades."
BETHESDA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first class was organized by Joseph Carper and Cornelius Springer, in 1827, at Jesse Roe's school house (where the Baptist church now is). It was composed of Jesse Roe and Margaret, his wife, and their son Thomas ; James Stewart and Margaret, his wife, and their son John ; Morde- cai Edwards and Phebe, his wife ; William Bar- ton and Jane, his wife, their son Alexander, and daughter Sarah; and Caleb Bedwell and wife. James Stewart was the leader.
This was a branch from the Wheelen Church, in Madison township. A lot was donated, for-
379
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
church purposes, situated near the centre of sec- tion fifteen, and a log church, twenty-six by thir- ty, was erected thereon, in 1835, and dedicated by Rev. H. S Fernandes. The land used for burial purposes-adjoining the church site-was bought by Robert Shields and Robert Haesty, before the church was built. The first burial therein was Jonathan Reed's child.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.