History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 23

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

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Scioto Chapel .- A class of the United Brethren in Christ was organized at Robtown about 1843, meetings preliminary to organiza- tion having been held in private houses and in an old log schoolhouse east of Robtown, built about 1822, which was afterward moved to Robtown and used as a church until 1875, when a frame structure was erected, which was named Scioto Chapel. The church is a class of the Ashville Circuit, and the names of the pastors who have had charge will be found in connection with the history of the Ashville U. B. Church. The present pastor is Rev. W. E. Rowe. The membership of the class is 52. There is a flourishing Sunday-school, of which Henry Prindle is superintendent.

The Presbyterian Church at Commercial Point has no regular minister at the present time. Services are held occasionally on ap-

pointment. It was organized about 1829 at the house of James Miller, a mile north of Com- mercial Point. Previous to that time services had been held in private houses occasionally. The first settled minister was Rev. Calvin Ran- som. A log church, built on a lot now used as the township cemetery, was erected about 1835 and used until a frame church was built in 1857, which is valued at about $2,000. The frame parsonage is valued at about $1,000. Sunday-school sessions are held regularly with a fair attendance. T. H. Durrett is superin- tendent.

CEMETERIES.

The first burial ground in Scioto township was on Thompson's Hill and the first person buried, it is thought, was Mrs. Welsh, mother of James Welsh, the date of whose death is not known. The first marked grave is that of Will- iam Mires, who died September 22, 1819. Sub- sequently there were several small cemeteries started throughout the county, primarily for the use of the families on whose land they were located, but in most cases interments were not confined to the immediate family. The old Foster burying-ground located on State land near Orient is no longer used. In 1845 John and Janet Mundell deeded a lot, two acres in size, to the Presbyterian Church, of which they wcre members. The first burial here is thought to have been that of Thomas Fullerton, in 1835. The oldest person buried is Mrs. Margaret Shannon, who was aged 103 years at death. She was a native of Scotland and was proud of the fact that the last person she danced with, before leaving Scotland, was Robert Burns. The Presbyterian Cemetery is now a township cemetery under control of the township trustees.

SCIIOOLS.

Messrs. Perkins, McGinnis and "Jack" Stinson were among the early school teachers. William Herbert taught school about 1814 in a log schoolhouse on the Edward Williams tract. The township has 13 districts and the town-

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CUSTODIAL FARM, SCIOTO TOWNSHIP Branch of State Institution for Feeble-Minded Youth.

PICKAWAY

COUNTY

MAP OF PICKAWAY COUNTY IN CEREALS Made by Gilbert Teegardin.

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ship Board of Education, elected November, 1904, is as follows: James M. Borror, F. A. Beavers and John W. Lane-four years; Ed- ward Dechert and L. S. Kibler-two years. The school at Orient is a brick building contain- ing two rooms; the teachers are L. B. Plum and Bertha Collopy. The Scioto township High School is a brick building at Commercial Point, built in 1895 at a cost of $7,000. The building is considered one of the finest in the county outside of Circleville. Edward L. Daley is superintendent; C. S. Bain, assistant superintendent ; and Gertrude Gray and Oma Smith, teachers. The school is a second-grade high school but it has recently started on a four-years' course, with the object of making the school first-grade. The Board of Educa- tion of the Commercial Point Village District, elected in 1904, is as follows : J. O. Beckett, Dr. S. C. Helmick and Eli Harsh-four years; A. D. Albright and S. R. Seeds-two years.

SOME EARLY EVENTS.

Nathan Rawlins was one of the first justices of the peace in Scioto township. He lived on the Franklinton pike in the north- eastern part of the township and kept his docket on a hewed log in his house, below the joist where the upper floor was laid. About 1808 a ferry was established near the South Bloom- field bridge, for the convenience of persons who were obliged to cross to Crampton's mill on the east bank of the Scioto. The first blacksmith in the township was Jacob Fishel, who estab- lished his shop on the Franklinton pike some- time before 1811. Robert Seeds burned the first brick about 1815 or 1816. The first saw- mill was built on Edward Williams' farm about 1808. Several still-houses flourished in the township in the early days. The settlers had their grist ground at the mill of Van Gundy on the Scioto and at those of Thompson and Kep- ler on Darby Creek.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Revnaugh, who was the first settled physician in Scioto township, located at Genoa

in 1842. Dr. Jaynes came about the same time, taught school for a while and then commenced the practice of medicine. Other physicians who practiced in the township were Drs. Martin, French, Sholl, Kingery and S. M. Seeds, all of whom were located at what is now the vil- lage of Commercial Point. Dr. T. W. Jones practiced in this township many years; he lived on a farm now occupied by James M. Borror, which he operated. The town has two phy- sicians at the present time : Dr. S. C. Helmick, who has been engaged in practice here for many years and who is senior member of the drug firm of Helmick & Son; and Dr. Robert A. Brown who has been located here since Febru- ary, 1905. Dr. J. A. Knight is located at Orient, where he also conducts a drug-store.

THE CUSTODIAL FARM,

A branch of the State Institution for Feeble Minded Youth, is located in the northwestern corner of Scioto township, where a tract of about 2,000 acres has already been secured. One of the first as well as one of the largest tracts purchased was the Morgan farm. Ex- tensive buildings operations are going on and it is expected that by Christmas there will be 200 inmates. At the present time there are 75.

SOCIETIES.

A dispensation for a Masonic lodge at Com- mercial Point was granted May 25, 1874. On October 21st of the same year, a charter was granted under the name of Battin Lodge, No. 487, F. & A. M. The officers appointed were : R. G. McLean, W. M .; James K. P. Mitchell, S. W .; and Daniel B. Dechert, J. W. The upper story of the town house at Commercial Point was built by members of the Masonic fraternity before Battin Lodge was organized. When the lodge came into existence, it had a good hall for its use. Battin Lodge ceased its labors some years ago.

Commercial Point Odd Fellows' Lodge, St. Halm, No. 703, is not now active. Commer- cial Camp, No. 10,963, M. W. of A., was insti- tuted at Commercial Point recently and is re-

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ported to be in good shape. The Improved Order of Red Men also has an organization here, meeting once a month. At a period when the organization known as the Independent Or- der of Good Templars was in vogue, a lodge was established at Commercial Point. It fin- ished its work many years ago.

COMMERCIAL POINT.

Wiley H. Beckett, who came from Eastern Virginia in 1829 and settled on a 238-acre tract of land, to the west of the present village of Commercial Point, laid out in 1841 a parcel of land in the northeastern part of his tract for the purpose of forming a town which he named "Genoa." Two years later James H. Burnley, who came here from Virginia in 1832, laid off a similar parcel of land in the south- western corner of his farm and called it "Rome." Rome became the eastern half of the village of Commercial Point, while Genoa became the western. A narrow grove was left on the south, which extended into the village and was not included in the plat. The town came to be known as Genoa while the postoffice was Beckett's Store. The first store here was started by Wiley H. Beckett in 1844. He was succeeded by his son, James A. Beckett, and he by John O. Beckett, his son, who is the present proprietor of a store that has been con- ducted by three generations of one family for a period of 62 years. Genoa was incorporated by special act of the Legislature March 21, 1851, and the first election was held on March 8, 1852, at which time the electors in the vil- lage chose the following officers : Mayor, H. P. Bunch; recorder, A. F. Beckett; Council- J. M. Anderson, E. Smith, J. L. Martin, L. Dennis and James Risk. At the first meeting of the Council, held at the schoolhouse, Hiram Anderson was appointed marshal and George Van Houten, treasurer. In 1872 the name of the village was changed by special act of the Legislature from Genoa to Commer- cial Point, which also became the name of the postoffice. Eli Harsh is given .the credit of having selected the name "Commercial Point." In 1871 the corporation, in conjunction with

the township, built the town house at Commer- cial Point, mentioned earlier in this article. Commercial Point has not had the advantage of being located on a line of railroad and hence the town has not attained the size it might otherwise have done. Various surveys have been made through the village, both for steam and traction lines, and it is believed that the prospects are very good for a trolley line here within a few years. The present village offi- cials are as follows: Mayor, W. A. Gray; marshal, John Chenault; treasurer, J. L. Mar- tin; clerk, Charles Wehe; Council-M. V. Beavers, Tim Sprouse, Eli Harsh, Harry Trego, J. C. Beers and A. D. Albright. The population of the village as given in the cen- sus of 1900 is 245. The streets, are illumi- nated by 14 patent gasoline lamps. Commer- cial Point has both the Bell and Citizens' tele- phones. Dr. S. C. Helmick is postmaster.

J. O. Beckett, C. E. Stewart and J. L. Mar- tin have general stores here, keeping well-se- lected lines of dry goods, groceries, hardware, small implements and machinery, boots and shoes, and gents' furnishings. . In addition to these lines, J. O. Beckett sells stoves. Other business houses are the following : Helmick & Son, drug-store; M. V. Beavers, grocery, liv- ery and sawmill; Tim Sprouse, meat market; Mrs. Jennie Prindle, millinery; H. A. Hott, undertaker; A. D. Albright and Husler & Hill, blacksmiths; and Mrs. J. C. Watkins, board- ing-house and feed stable.

ORIENT

Is a station on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R., in the northwest corner of Scioto township. Its history is of a comparatively recent date. The same locality is also called Morgan's. This place is the present western terminus of the traction line running between Columbus and Morgan's, known as the Columbus, Grove City & Southwestern. Orient claims a population of about 200. It is not incorporated. The postmaster and the chief merchant is J. S. Mc- Kinley. Three rural routes run from Orient. The town has both the Bell and the Citizens' telephones. The following are the business

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interests of the place: J. S. Mckinley, gen- eral store and grocery; W. D. Sprouse, gen- eral store, grocery and meat market; George McCann, restaurant; Edward Hill, blacksmith ; D. W. Stansel, coal; Elza B. Beavers, livery ; and Dr. J. A. Knight, drug-store. O. B. Yerian conducts a hotel and is also agent for a number of insurance companies. A grain ele- vator of Jones & Company is located here, where coal is also handled. The State of Ohio has a brick and tile factory at Orient.

MATVILLE

Is a small settlement of about 50 inhabitants in

the western section of Scioto township. It was formerly known as Jacktown. Here are found the general stores and groceries of R. A. & \V. M. McGhee and D. J. White and grocery of Dan McFarland. Arch McMillen is the village blacksmith. The Citizens' Tele- phone Company has established a line to Mat- ville.

ROBTOWN,

A small settlement situated in the southern part of Scioto township, has two groceries, Thomas Rodgers and J. W. Clellan being pro- prietors.

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CHAPTER XVI

WALNUT TOWNSHIP

The first permanent settlement made in this township was in 1797 or 1798. There were white people living here prior to this period, but they did not continue long as residents. Unfortunately, the early township records have been lost, so that it is impossible to state when the township was organized. It is a settled fact, however, that the township organization existed before the formation of the county. The township, as originally set off and sur- veyed, was six miles square. As it was con- sidered that Walnut Creek would make the most satisfactory boundary line between this township and Harrison, it was finally arranged to detach the northwestern portion of Walnut township lying west of Walnut Creek and add it to the territory of Harrison township, while that portion of Harrison township south of Walnut Creek was set over to Walnut town- ship. The boundary line was a matter of con- siderable moment to the settler in the early days, when there were no bridges across Wal- nut Creek, which stream was difficult to cross at certain seasons of the year. The present boundaries of the township are as follows : Walnut Creek and Madison township on the north; Fairfield County on the east; Washing- ton and Circleville townships on the south and Walnut Creek and the Scioto River on the west. The population of the township in 1900 was 1,455. The township officials for 1906 are as follows: Trustees-John H. Peters, David Six and W. H. Reed; clerk, John E. Weiser; treasurer, George C. Marion; asses- sor, Joshua Glick; justices of the peace- George Bowers and George A. Knepper.

As stated previously, Walnut Creek forms nearly the whole western boundary of the town- ship .. Little Walnut Creek flows through the township from east to west and empties into Walnut Creek in section 18. Little Walnut has many tributaries, chief among which is Turkey Run. The surface of the township is generally undulating, being considerably more rolling in the eastern part than it is in the cen- tral and western sections. The highest point of the township, East Ringgold, is several hundred feet above Circleville. The early set- tlers found this section of the county covered with various varieties of timber, which con- sisted principally of walnut, butternut, hickory, maple, oak and a large proportion of wild cherry of splendid growth, many of the trees measuring five or six feet through. There was also a great deal of buckeye, which was not valued as timber.

Near East Ringgold - are found three mounds, attributed to the Mound Builders, that in their situation are quite interesting. These mounds, which were originally of a conical shape, 'extend in a nearly straight line from east to west with but a few yards interval be- tween and are from 15 to 20 feet in height. Other remains of the ancient race of Mound Builders have been found in the township.

EARLY SETTLERS. .

It is conceded that the pioneer settler was William Williamson, who shares the honor with his brothers, Cornelius and John. They came here from Hampshire County, Virginia,

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in the spring of 1797 or 1798. William leased some school land in section 16, and with his brothers erected a cabin and put in six or seven acres of corn. Tradition has it that the small clearing, where they settled, had been made by a party of trappers or explorers from Virginia, who were here for a short period. In the fall the Williamson brothers returned to Virginia. The following winter, William Williamson brought out his family, consisting of his wife. and one child. The parents walked the entire distance, carrying the child in their arms, while their goods were transported on a pack-horse. John Williamson, Sr., father of the brothers, joined the settlement in 1815. Cornelius Wil- liamson made a permanent settlement in the township about 1830, although he was here on several trips prior to that date.

About a year after the Williamson brothers came here, William and Joseph Buck and their families, who were originally from Pennsylva- nia, moved here from Kentucky. James Mar- tin, from Pennsylvania, settled here as early as 1798 and Abraham Crist came about 1800. In the spring of 1802 the settlement was further increased in size by the arrival of Wil- liam Ward and family, from Pendleton Coun- ty, Virginia. The family consisted of his wife and seven children, a married daughter remain- ing behind. In 1803 John Morris, Thomas Longworth and John Hager, Sr., became resi- dents of Walnut township.

In 1804 Joshua Hedges with his wife and II children came to Ohio; upon reaching Lan- caster, Fairfield County, they located there temporarily. There the death of Mr. Hedges took place. In the fall the family came to Walnut township, putting up a cabin on section 9, which with other lands the father had en- tered. William Tallman and his son-in-law, Richard Hooker, both from Pennsylvania, Ja- cob Hoover, from Virginia, and Alexander Frasier, a Scotchman, located here about 1805. Among the arrivals in 1806 were Joash Miller, Benjamin Bowman, Lewis Scothorn and Wil- liam Brown and family, his son Samuel and family and several sons-in-law and their fami- lies. Jacob Beery, who arrived here from Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in 1807,

was the earliest settler in the northeastern part of the township. In 1808 J. C. Peters came here from Berkeley County, Virginia, and re- sided in Walnut township until 1825, when he removed to Madison township. George Brink- er, John Peninger and family, Jesse Morral and Mary Harrold came here in 1810 and about the same time William Morral joined the settlement. Jesse Morral and Miss Harrold were married soon after their arrival and their marriage is the second one recorded in the rec- ords of Pickaway County.

In 1812 Charles Duryea and Henry Hott, the latter accompanied by several brothers, came to Walnut township; Benjamin Trone and Paul Cromley came here in 1813; Hugh Creighton, in 1816; Tunis Peters, in 1817; Isaac Weaver and Charles May, in 1827; Daniel Snyder, in 1834; and John May, in 1836. Among the other early settlers in this township were: George Groce, James Bell, Dr. Josiah Luckey, Samuel Peters, David Kershner, Dr. William Turner, Michael Blue, Jacob Westenhaver and Zachariah Pritchett.

CHURCHES.

Hedges Chapel .- At an early date mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal denomination established religious services in Walnut town- ship, the first meetings being held in the homes of Noah Jones, Moses Oman and George Brinker, and also' at the homes of Jacob Long- enbaugh and the widow Cole in the eastern part of the township. . The Hedges Chapel class was organized by Rev. J. H. Creighton at the house of George Brinker in 1841, and con- sisted of the following members: Thomas Young and wife, Shadrack Cole and five chil- dren, James Hoyman, George Brinker and wife, John Knight, wife and his sister Betsey, Lewis Fridley, wife and daughters, Hannah and Catharine, Cyrus Hedges, wife and daugh- ters, Ann D. and Cynthia, Eli Hines and wife, Sarah Payton and daughters, and Gideon Cum- mings. Shadrack Cole was local preacher. Revs. James Gilworth and Thomas Hurd were then on the circuit. The first class leader was Thomas Young. The original chapel was built

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in 1843. Cyrus Hedges donated the ground and in addition subscribed $50. The present chapel of the society is a frame structure that was built in 1887. The church property is well improved with cement walks and shade trees and lawn and is valued at $4,000. Rev. S. M. Merrill (afterward Bishop) was pastor during the Civil War; he was followed by such men as Riker, J. M. Rife, Miller, H. B. West- ervelt, L. H. Binkley, Frank Gillilan, B. F. Jackson, C. M. Prior, F. M. Evans and F. R. Crooks, who was succeeded in September, 1906, by Rev. C. E. Hill. The class is a charge of the Ashville Circuit, in which town the pas- tor has his residence. The society has a mem- bership of 100. The Sunday-school, of which George C. Marion is superintendent, has an attendance of about 75.

The East Union M. E. Church was organ- ized between 1825 and 1830 with 12 members. The meetings continued to be held at the home of Mrs. Cole, as previously mentioned, until the erection of a brick church building in the year 1835, for which William Tallman gave the land. The structure soon became inade- quate to the needs of the society and about 15 years after its erection it was torn down and another brick church was erected on the same spot. The church is located about half a mile east of Walnut. The church property is valued at $2,500. The society has a membership of about 75. The church is a charge of the Ash- ville Circuit, of which Rev. C. E. Hill is pres- ent pastor, having succeeded Rev. F. R. Crooks in September, 1906. Ezra Hedges, now nearly 90 years old, has been a lifelong member. The Sunday-school, of which Alva Courtright is superintendent, has an average attendance of about 75.

There have been two churches of the Evan- gelical Association in Walnut township. Mount Zion's Church, at one time called the Zinser Church, was organized in 1830, at the home of Solomon Zinser, where meetings were held until the frame church on the south line of the township was erected in 1840. The original members were: Solomon Zinser and wife, John Bridagum and wife, Jacob Rife and wife and Valentine Reber and wife. The church

building was the first church edifice erected by the denomination west of the Allegheny Moun- tains. Previous to its completion, the first Ohio Evangelical Conference was held in a barn on the farm then owned by Solomon Moyer, after- ward the Andrew Ucher farm. The church was abandoned in the '80's.

Emanuel Church of the Evangelical Asso- ciation was formed about 1832, with the fol- lowing members: John Tobias and wife, Peter Tobias and wife, John Hittle and wife and Peter Moyer and wife. Meetings were held at the dwellings of the members, until the church in the southeast corner of section 28 was built, in 1848. Rev. A. J. Diefenderfer has been the pastor of the church for the past two years. The membership of the church, which in former years was more than 100, has been decreased by removals and deaths to 25. There is a flourishing Sunday-school.

Mount Hermon U. B. Church .- A class of the United Brethren in Christ was organ- ized at the house of James Ward in 1833. The meetings continued here some time, later being held in log schoolhouses. Soon after 1845 Rev. Isaac Kretzenger, the circuit preacher, conducted revivals here, which re- sulted in the addition of quite a number to the church membership. The need of a church building then became keenly felt and it was therefore decided to build. A mound, sup- posed to be of artificial construction, located in the southeast part of section 17, was se-

lected as the site. The church, at the sugges- tion of Robert G. Morral, one of the members who selected the location, was called the "Mount Hermon Church." In 1875 the old building was removed to give place to the pres- ent frame structure, which was completed dur- ing the incumbency of Rev. William Fisher, who served the circuit in 1876 and 1877. The church has a membership of about 60 and has a flourishing Sunday-school of 40 members, C. B. Barnhart being superintendent. The church is a class of the Ashville Circuit, of which Rev. W. E. Rowe is the present pastor.

The East Ringgold class of the United Brethren Church, which belongs to the Beth- any Circuit, of which Rev. E. Gwartney, of

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Lancaster, is pastor, was organized in 1865 by Rev. Thomas Forsyth and was composed of six members. The frame church, erected by members of the German Reformed Church at the Ritter burial-ground, was purchased and moved to East Ringgold. This building was replaced about two years ago by a new frame structure at a cost of $3,000. The church has a membership of 80. The Sunday-school of 75 members is under the superintendence of C. M. Spayth.

Bethlehem class of the United Brethren Church was organized at the house of John Hager in 1835 with 10 members. Meetings were held at his residence until the erection of the church, in 1840. Meetings of this class have not been held for 15 years or more and it therefore may be termed extinct.

A United Brethren class formerly existed in the Pontious neighborhood but it disbanded in 1845, and the members, then only five or six in number, went with the Mount Hermon class.

A United Brethren class was formed at the dwelling of John May in 1838 or 1839 by Rev. William McCabe. They held their services there for some time until the class becaine large, when it was divided, and one part met for worship at the house of John Morris and the other in the Albright Church on the town line, which some of the members had assisted in erecting. Subsequently the two classes re- united and continued their meetings in the Al- bright Church until 1874, when the Bethany Church building, in Washington township, was erected.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 23

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