History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 18

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923

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Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, on Lick Run, was organized by Rev. J. H. Schneider, who was pastor of Trinity Evan- gelical Lutheran Church at Circleville, from 1882 to 1894. Following Mr. Schneider, Rev. G. W. Mautz conducted services at Christ Church during his four years pastorate at Trinity Church, 1894-98, being followed by Rev. G. J. Troutman, the present pastor of both churches. The church building, erected soon after the foundation of the society, is a frame structure, roofed with slate. The church has a membership of 150 souls. Albert F. Krimmel is superintendent of the Sunday- school, which has a membership of about 60 and an attendance of about 45.

CEMETERIES.

It is thought that the first burials in this township were made in the all burying-ground, on the bank of Darby Creek, as the inscrip- tions on the tombstones go back as far as 1807. Many Halls are buried here as well as mem- bers of neighboring families. In another burying-ground is found the tombstone of John Renick, the pioneer, who died in 1814. There may have been earlier burials, for time has not dealt kindly with the inscriptions, which in many instances have become nearly effaced. The year 1826 was a sad one to the early set- tlers living here, for a malignant sickness, known as the "cold plague," removed many loved ones. The Jackson township cemetery, comprising some four acres, was laid out some 20 years ago and now has about 150 graves.

SCHOOLS.

Only a few years after the first settlement was made, a schoolhouse, the first in the town- ship, was erected just below John Renick's place, near what was called "Strawberry Prairie." This was about 1807. It is said that the first term of school in this log building was taught by Peter Mickel. David Culberson and James Warren were also pioneer teachers of the township.

Jackson township at the present time has II

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districts, each supplied with a substantial schoolhouse. The total enrollment of the schools in the last school year was 277. The members of the township Board of Education, as elected in November, 1904, are as follows: William Fisher, David F. Niles and David Adkins-four years; Isham A. Jones and D. H. Prindle-two years. The clerk of the board is Wayne A. Hoover.

EARLY MILLS.

The splendid water power to be secured along the banks of Darby Creek early resulted in the establishment of a number of important mills. Soon after the arrival of William Mar- quis, he built a small, log grist-mill on Darby Creek, about a quarter of a mile above the site where at a later date the well-known Mc- Lane gristmill was erected. Marquis also had a sawmill. These mills that Marquis built about a century ago have long since disap- peared. They are usually referred to as Hall's mills, as they were sold by Marquis to An- thony Hall and by the latter operated for a considerable period. The McLane grist-mill was built by James Thompson in 1833 and by him sold to John E. Van Meter. About 1853 it passed into the hands of Joseph Deeds and in 1856 was bought by Washington Mc- Lane. The mill was operated until compara- tively recent years.

FLORENCE GRANGE, NO. 874, P. OF H.

Is one of two remaining Granges in the county, where there were perhaps a dozen 30 years ago when the order flourished. The first officers, chosen at the organization of the Grange, in April, 1874, were as follows: Felix Renick, master; Robert Galbreath, overseer; H. B. Swearingen, lecturer; J. P. Taylor, steward; J. R. Florence, assistant steward; W. T. Bell, treasurer; J. P. Wright, chaplain; G. A. Flor- ence, secretary; A. J. Williams, gatekeeper ; Mrs. Felix Renick, ceres; Mrs. H. B. Swearin- gen, pomona; Mrs. J. R. Florence, flora; and Mary E. Williams, lady assistant steward. The present officers are : J. Grant Swearingen, mas- ter; John Row, treasurer; and Charles Daily, secretary. Meetings are held regularly every second Saturday night at the Swearengen homestead now occupied by John Row. The membership is about 30.

FOX

Is a small place, of about 25 population, lo- cated some four miles northwest of Circle- ville. There was a postoffice here until it was discontinued some two years ago, since which time Fox has been on Rural Route No. 5 from Circleville. Trimble Brothers' store (which for a period of 25 years was conducted by their father, James Trimble (now a resident of Circleville, and Charles Henry's blacksmith shop make up the business interests of the place.

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CHAPTER IX

MADISON TOWNSHIP

This township, situated in the extreme northeastern part of Pickaway County, was es- tablished June 5, 1810, by the County Com- missioners, and the first election was ordered to take place at the home of Luke Decker, on June 23rd. The township contains 24 sec- tions, of which 16 and 21 were reserved for school lands. The township is bounded on the north by Madison township, Franklin County ; on the east by Bloom township, Fairfield Coun- ty ; on the south by Walnut township, and on the west by Harrison township, Pickaway County. Madison is the smallest township in Pickaway County in point of size and in point of population is next to the smallest, being given 794 in the census of 1900. The officers of Madison township for 1906 are as follows : Trustees-C. U. Rose, E. H. Baum and H. M. Runkle; clerk. C. B. Teegardin; treasurer, Henry Noecker; assessor. Nathan W. Perrill; justices of the peace-T. M. Garner and Elisha Warner.

The chief stream of the township is Walnut Creek, which flows through the western half of the township in a southerly direction. The eastern portion of the township is watered by Slate Run and its branches, which stream empties into Walnut Creek about two miles above St. Paul. Madison township has many fine and productive farms. The soil is uni- formly good, consisting of a black loam and gravel on the lower lands, and clay on the hills, with many excellent beds of gravel. The east- ern part of the township rises into quite large hills, with generally a long slope to the low-

: lands, which were originally swamps in the early days of the settlement and abounded in wild ducks and geese. On account of the wash- ing of the clay soil. Walnut Creek is seldom clear. The early settlers never lacked for game, as the forests here were the home of deer and turkeys and bears were occasionally seen; wild ducks were plenty and small game such as pheasants, rabbits and squirrels inhabited every part of the underbrush and forest. Until recent years small mounds, whose presence is attributed to the ancient race of Mound Build- ers, might be seen in various parts of the town- ship. The township seems also to have been a favorite resort with the Indians, for many relics, such as stone hammers, spear and arrow- heads and pestles for pounding corn, have been found.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The early settlements in Madison township were for the first part made on small tracts. The township was included in the district known as Congress lands, which were not put upon the market until 1801 ; it is probable that some settlements were made here previously. The earliest settlements of which we have a record were made about 1804. George Reed, George Gibson, Col. Thomas Gibson, John Ritter (who was the first blacksmith in the township) and Henry Hall were among the first settlers, coming here in 1804 or 1805.

Among those who settled here in 1806 were Isaac Millar, Joseph Hoffhines, Luke Decker,

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Ezekiel Groon, George Coon and Edward Cut- ler. Isaac Millar came here from Virginia and settled on a section of land, which was en- tered by William Millar. He accumulated con- siderable property, at one time owning 1,800 acres of land in Harrison and Madison town- ships. He brought the first threshing machine and the first reaper into Madison township. Luke Decker came here from Virginia, re- mained two years and then returned home, where he married Ivea Fox; he then brought his bride to begin a home in the Western woods. He was a commissary to Gen. Wil- liam H. Harrison in the War of 1812. At the time he came here, there was a camp of Indians near his place who went away soon after his settlement.

Among the arrivals in the years 1808 and 1809 were: Louis Fridley, John Smith and John Fisher. Many settlers came into the township about 1810, among whom were Peter Kroninger, John Nothstine, Daniel Rainier, William Teegardin, Jacob McLane, Joseph Kelly and Andrew Dildine. Aaron Teegardin came here in 1811 and John Woodruff and John Albright came here between 1810 and 1812. Aaron Teegardin, as stated, made his settlement in Madison township in 1811. He had previously come here with his son, William Teegardin, and made a selection of land. At his death he gave each of his children, of whom he had seven, 160 acres of land. His descend- ants are among the best-known residents of Madison and Harrison townships.

George P. Shook, Christian Loffer, James Lambert and Henry Regal came here about 1812; Solomon Glick, about 1814 or 1815; and Christian Baum, about 1815. Among the arrivals in 1816 or a little before were the fol- lowing: Nathan Perrill, Henry Crossley, Jacob Ice, George Hensel, Jacob Noyer, Sam- uel Hunt and Matthias Case. Nathan Perrill and family came here from Frederick County, Virginia, in 1816, arriving on May 5th of that year. He settled on the southwest quarter of section 15, which he purchased from William Teegardin, who had bought it from the govern- ment for $800. Mr. Perrill served as a 2nd lieutenant during the War of 1812, being sta-

tioned at Norfolk, Virginia, most of the time. Jacob and Isaac Schleich came here soon after 1816. William Woolweaver came here from Virginia about 1817; Joseph Wright and Dan- iel Wilson settled here in 1820; J. C. Peters, in 1825; John Souser, in 1828; Henry Culp, about 1829; Jacob Hines, in 1831; and John Noecker, in 1832. Among the other early set- tlers in Madison township were: John Funk- houser, Joshua Benton, William and Trueman Bowen, John Colburn, David Morris, David Flenner, William Bishop, James McClish, Dan- iel Hankison, John Childs, Noah Groom, John Guiberson, Robert Reed, Valentine Sparr, Ben- jamin Howell, Isaac Bean, Jesse Spangler and the Brobst family.

CHURCHES.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church .- In the early years of the settlement of Madison township, the members of the Lutheran denom- ination who wished to attend religious services had to go to the adjoining county of Fairfield. They therefore, in 1834, petitioned the Synod of Ohio at Miamisburg for a minister and a separate organization. Their petition was granted and Rev. Joseph A. Roof was licensed as their first minister. On June 29, 1834, the first service was held at the house of Mrs. Mary Magdalene Hoover. The church was formally organized on August 3rd, with Solomon Tee- gardin and John Brintlinger being chosen as elders and Elias Hoover and Jacob Lilly, as deacons. They were installed into the duties of their respective offices the same day. For some months services were held in school- houses. Finally, at a meeting held on Decem- ber 3, 1834, the question of purchasing a lot and building a church edifice was considered. A subscription was raised and a lot purchased on section 23, where a church building was erected the following year. By the terms of this sub- scription, this church was to be the joint prop- erty of the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed churches. The building was not completed until 1838, though services were held in it from 1835. Mr. Roof continued as pastor until 1855, when he resigned; he was

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again called to the pastorate in 1860. The present brick church was built in 1864 at a cost of $4,000, being erected and owned wholly by St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. It has a seating capacity of 300. In 1872 a seven- room brick parsonage was erected at a cost of $1,500. In 1869 Rev. E. L. S. Tressel was called to the pastorate; he was succeeded in turn by the following: Revs. W. H. Brown, B. S. Schillinger, D. E. Snapp, G. T. Cooper- rider and F. B. Hax, who is pastor at the pres- ent time. The church has a membership of 165 members. This is considered a wealthy congregation. In addition to the church prop- erty, consisting of- the church and parsonage and various improvements, the church also owns a farm of 80 acres, that was willed to it by Solomon Teegardin about 1875. The Sun- day-school, of which D. L. Hines is superin- tendent, has a membership of about 150. The official board of the church is constituted as follows: Trustees-J. A. Baum, C. B. Tee- gardin, G. D. Griffith, D. A. Runkle and E. Berger; deacons-H. M. Runkle, Clarence Noecker and Arthur Coon; elders-Joshua Glick and Lewis Baum; treasurer, J. L. Hoover; secretary, Ira Fisher.

Trinity Lutheran Church was organized in 1856, in which year a frame church was erected in the southeastern corner of section 25' on land given for the purpose by Jacob Brobst. The first members were Peter Brobst and fam- ily, Jacob Brobst and family, David Brobst and family, Conrad Salt and family, Samuel Smith and family, David Hall and family, Reuben Smith and family and others. The first min- ister employed was Rev. Peter Eirich. There is no pastor at the present time. Rev. O. E. Weber, of Lithopolis, recently served the church.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized in this township about 1844 by Rev. Isaac Hunter, who was a circuit preacher. It was called the Pleasant Grove Church and was in- cluded in the Lithopolis Circuit. The church building was erected in 1850 and services were held in it until 1869 or 1870, when the build- ing was sold to the township trustees for use as a schoolhouse. No services of this denomina- tion are now held in the township.

Madison Presbyterian Church .- In the win- ter of 1895, following the suggestion of a num- ber of residents of the township that a Presby- terian Church be built here, a subscription pa- per was circulated with the result that $1,658 was secured from various sources. On Sun- day, April 13, 1896, a meeting was held at the St. Paul High School, where Rev. J. P. Strat- ton, of Circleville, explained the necessary steps to be taken preliminary to organization. At the. Columbus Presbytery, held the week fol- lowing at Plain City, Dr. Stratton and Rev. J. A. Ewalt, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. at London, were delegated to the work of ef- fecting the organization. They met at the resi- dence of Miss Kate H. Decker, Monday even- ing April 27th, and partially effected the organ- ization, which was completed on May 24th, when 33 persons were received as members. The first officials selected were as follows: Trustees-T. M. Garner, W. S. Moore, Benja- min Myers, George R. Miller and Clifton H. Decker; elders-Hon. W. T. Conklin, John. W. Teegardin and C. U. Rose; building com- mittee-John W. Teegardin, E. O. Teegardin, Bennett Myers and S. B. Alspaugh: The name "Madison Presbyterian Church" was adopted. On May 3rd a Sunday-school was organized at the schoolhouse in District No. 2, where it continued to be held regularly, until the com- pletion of the church edifice. Religious ser- vices were also held in this schoolhouse on al- ternate Sundays during the summer of 1896,. Rev. J. W. Barnes, of Westerville, Ohio, preaching here during his summer vacation. The site selected for the church was at the. cross-roads opposite the election house, part of the ground being donated by G. P. Alspaugh. The contract price for the work, $2,051, was made on the condition that the hauling of ma- terial should be done by members of the con- gregation. Work upon the building was begun. in July, and it was completed in December, 1896. The total cost of the building, includ- ing the furnace; furniture, etc., was $2,356.40 .. It was dedicated on December 13, 1896, by Rev. W.,S. Eagleson, of Columbus, Ohio, as- sisted by Rev. T. B. Atkins, of Lithopolis and Rev. C. W. Hemstead, of Commercial Point. The church building is a commodious, well-

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built structure, excellently adapted for church purposes. The interior finishing is in oak; the windows are Gothic, glazed with stained- glass. The auditorium is furnished with chairs, placed in circular form, instead of the custom- ary pews. The present membership of the church is 85. Rev. Howard M. Welsh is the present pastor. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 100.

EARLY CEMETERIES.

In the center of section 17 was located the first cemetery in the township. The land was owned at the time by a non-resident, Jacob Behenstaugh. A number of burials were made, but the place was abandoned many years ago and no marks are now left. In 1843 a ceme- tery was opened by Z. H. Perrill on the old Perrill place; Nathan Perrill was the first per- son interred there. There are a number of other .cemeteries in the township, which have been1 used to a greater or less extent, some of them still being used occasionally.

SCHOOLS.

Among the early school teachers in Madi- son township were Travis Redd, David Am- mon, William McArthur, John Wright, Alex- ander Cameron, Truman Bowen, David Daugherty and John Miller. The township now has six school districts, including the dis- trict where is located the high school. The Board of Education, elected in November, 1904, was as follows: E. O. Teegardin, S. O. Smith and John W. Teegardin-four years; C. V. Burk and F. J. Peters-two years. With one exception, the board has the same mem- bers at the present time, Jacob Smith having succeeded C. V. Burk. The clerk of the board is C. B. Teegardin.

The Madison township High School was established in 1883, which was some four or five years prior to similar action on the part of any other township in the county. The members of the Board of Education who were instrumental in having this action taken were George A. Knepper, Monroe Brobst and Hon

W. T. Conklin. When it was decided to have a high school, the other two members of the board-N. Z. Moore and J. W. Decker-went to work enthusiastically with the majority of the board, for the establishment and equipment of the school. It was first located at St. Paul and later was removed to the center of the township. The building is a brick structure of two rooms. During the 23 years of its life, the high school has been an unqualified success and has had about 75 graduates, a large num- ber of whom have become successful as teach- ers and in other occupations.

EARLY MILLS AND INDUSTRIES.

Jacob Shook erected an oil-mill at an early date, and carried on the business of extracting oil from flaxseed for eight or ten years, after which he built a sawmill on the same site. The first grist-mill was built and owned by Luke Decker, in 1816 or 1817. The mill was oper- ated for over 25 years. Jacob Shafer came to this township from Harrison township after 1810 and established a tannery ; he also had a small mill for grinding, which was run by horse power. In the early days a number of stills for the manufacture of whiskey were operated in Madison township. Isaac Millar ran a small still soon after his settlement here in 1806. William Bishop, Jesse and John Reed and Enoch Henry also owned and operated stills at an early date. A copper still and mill was run by William Teegardin at the time of the build- ing of the Ohio Canal, in 1825-30. A number of stone quarries have been opened in the town- ship, but the quality of the stone is not very good and the product has been used only for the foundations to buildings and for cellars.

ST. PAUL,

The only settlement in Madison township, has a population of about 70. In 1866 G. A. Knep- per and John R. Teegardin built a store and opened a stock of goods at this place. Knepper retired from the partnership after one year and the business was conducted by Teegardin & Julian one year, when Teegardin became sole

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proprietor and conducted the business for five years, when he associated with him his brother, George Philip Teegardin. It was again run for five years in partnership, when John R. Teegardin bought his brother's interest and con- (lucted the business alone. His successor, H. H. Teegardin, is still engaged in business at the old 'stand conducting a general store and grocery. Harley Gatten has a blacksmith shop here and George Bowers, a shoe shop. These comprise the business interests of the place at the present time.

There was no postoffice in Madison town- ship until 1859 or 1860, when an office was es- tablished at St. Paul, which was at that time called Teegardin's. Rev. J. A. Roof, of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, who

was appointed the first postmaster, adminis- tered the office at his residence. No provision was made for carrying the mails ; for a number of years it was done by private enterprise, per- sons in the neighborhood alternating in carry- ing it. Finally a private subscription was raised and George Coon carried it for two years; Andrew Duvall succeeded him and car- ried it for several years, until a regular route was established between South Bloomfield and Marcy. The second postmaster was Louis Rhodes. John R. Teegardin then became post- master and the mail business was transacted by the Teegardins until the postoffice was discon- tinued, in 1902. The residents now get their mail by rural free delivery from Ashville.

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CHAPTER X

MONROE TOWNSHIP

Monroe township is situated north of Perry and Deer Creek townships, west of Muhlen- berg and Jackson townships, south of Darby- ville and Muhlenberg townships and east of Fayette and Madison counties. Deer Creek forms a greater part of the southern boundary. The township is also watered by Clark's, Van Buskirk's and Mud runs, all of which empty into Deer Creek. The surface of the township is on a whole level, except along the streams. The first settlement in the township was made about 1799. The soil is for the most part clay and is well adapted to the growing of wheat and corn. The township was organized after the erection of Pickaway County. The pres- ent officers of the township are as follows : Trustees-L. M. Long, John Douglas and John Row; clerk, C. E. Dick; treasurer, S. C. Tootle; assessor, Henry Robinson; justices of the peace-J. M. Hatfield and Charles Mc- Lean. The population of the township accord- ing to the census of 1900 is 1,586.

EARLY SETTLERS.

It is thought that the first permanent settler was Peter Van Buskirk, a native of Mary- land, who came here about 1800 from Ross County, Ohio, where he had settled in 1799. Upon coming to this township, he settled on the bank of Deer Creek, where he erected, in early times. a grist-mill and distillery. Charles Longberry came to this township in 1800 from Pennsylvania. Christopher Cardiff removed from Maryland to Deer Creek in 1806, and

eventually located in Monroe township. Sam- uel R. Dawson came to the township in 1814; Jeremiah, Josiah and John Thomas, three brothers, in 1815; George Rowe, in 1816; John Porter, George Richey and John Foster, in 1817; John D. Hatfield, in 1829; John G. Grindle, in 1831; William Riggin, in 1832; Wilson Murphy, in 1835; and William C. Wil- liams in 1836. The Hays family, Benjamin Norris and family, Milburn Smith and Rev. James Marshall were also early settlers in Mon- roe township. At an early day several saw and grist-mills were established on Van Buskirk's Run, but these have since disappeared. A horse-mill for ginding corn was erected on the turnpike at a very early period by John H. Maddux.

CHURCHES.

The Hebron M. E. Church, situated in the southwestern part of the township, was formed soon after the settlement. Meetings for a time were held in the log cabins of the settlers and subsequently in the little log school-house near Foster's. Revs. Joseph Hays and William Morrow were among the first circuit preachers on this charge, which was attached to Deer Creek Circuit. The early ministers were the same that had charge of the Methodist Episco- pal Church at Williamsport. The church is now in the Darbyville Circuit; Rev. F. B. Davis is the pastor. Leslie Lewis is superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. The church edi- fice of this society, built in 1838, was probably the first one built in the township.

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The Greenland M. E. Church, known as the Timmons Church, which is located about four miles from Five Points on the road to Era, dates back to about 1834, when a class was formed here under the ministry of Revs. Philip Nation and Joshua Boucher, of the Lon- don Circuit. Meetings were held in private homes until the erection of the log church which was called the "Timmons meeting house." In 1853 a frame church was erected and the present name substituted. Among the early ministers who had this charge were Revs. E. Webster, William Morrow, N. Hugh, John W. Still, George Fait, M. Wolfe, C. B. War- rington, T. Hurd, S. Maddux, T. Hall, W. Browning, J. Young, D. Smith, J. Martin, J. Q. Lakin, F. F. Lewis, J .· Laws, A. M. Alex- ander, S. Rankin, D. Mann and A. R. Miller. In the division of the circuit, the Greenland Church was assigned to the Mount Sterling Circuit, of which it is still a charge. Rev. S. A. Crosby, of Mount Sterling, is in charge of the circuit at the present time. The church has a flourishing Sunday-school.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 18

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 923

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923