USA > West Virginia > Monongalia County > History of Monongalia County, West Virginia, from its first settlements to the present time; with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 48
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MORGAN DISTRICT is bounded on the north and north-east by Union District, from which it is partly separated by West run; on the south-east Chestnut Ridge forms its boundary against Preston County; on the south and south- west it is bounded by Clinton District, and on the west and north-west it is separated from Grant and Cass districts by the Monongehala River. In shape, the district is long and narrow-extending from north-west to south-east.
Morgan District was the southern part of the first con- stabulary district in 1807, when the county was divided into nine such districts. In 1831, Monongalia was divided into four constabulary districts, and all of Morgan north of Co- bun's creek was in District No. 1, while all south of that stream lay in District No. 2. In 1852, the territory of the district was comprised in the second magisterial district of the seven such districts into which the county was divided. The second district included besides the territory of Morgan, all that northern portion of Clinton between Booth's creek and Morgan District line. In 1863, Morgan Township was
647
MORGAN DISTRICT.
established, embracing the territory of the present district, and named in honor of Zackwell Morgan. In 1873, Morgan Township, by a change of designation merely, became the present Morgan District.
The slope of the district is to the north-west, in the di- rection of its streams. The surface is hilly and broken. The south-eastern part is comprised in the western slope of Chestnut Ridge. Through it Decker's creek breaks, cutting a gorge but little less than a canon, whose wild and pictur- esque scenery is only surpassed by the Cheat River Canon. In the extreme north-western part are the celebrated "Flats." They are formed by the fifth Morgantown terrace (see page 568). Of them Prof. White says : 1
"Owing to the considerable-275 feet-of the fifth terrace above the river bed, its deposits are frequently found far inland from the Monongahela, on tributary streams. A very extensive deposit of this kind occurs on a tributary one mile and a half north-east of Morgantown, and the region, which includes three or four square miles, is significantly known as the 'flats.' The elevation of the 'flats' is 275 feet above the river or 1,065 feet above tide. The de- posits on this area consist almost entirely of clays and fine sandy material, there being very few boulders intermingled. The depth of this deposit is unknown, since a well sunk on the land of Mr. Baker passed through alternate beds of clay, fine sand and muddy trash to a depth of sixty-five feet without reaching bed-rock."
The district is drained by the Monongahela and its trib- utaries, Cobun's creek, Decker's creek and West run. Good springs are to be found everywhere. The soil is good, and with fair attention yields very respectable crops. Wheat is . said to average from 7 to 15 bushels per acre ; corn, 20 to 50; oats, 15 to 30; potatoes, 70 and 90. Vegetables and small fruits do well. Apples, pears, cherries, plums, and some peaches, are grown. Apples are the main crop.
648 HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
Heavy forests once existed in the district, but they have largely been used, yet sufficient timber remains for all needed purposes. Oak, poplar and chestnut were the lead- ing kinds. Large quantities of pine still remain on the head-waters of Decker's creek, where a considerable por- tion of land remains unsettled.
The mineral wealth of the district-its coal, iron ore and limestone-will be found fully described by Prof. Steven- son, commencing on page 223 of this book.
Of wild animals in the district, in a very early day, the buffalo roamed in some numbers.' As late as 1823, wolves have howled, and in 1800, bears, deer, elk and panthers were to be seen. Now, a fox or wild cat is to be seen once in a while, in the south-eastern part and a few copperheads and rattlesnakes are still to be found on the mountain side.
The wild animal has been succeeded by the domestic an- imal, and herds of cattle, flocks of sheep and droves of hogs are seen upon the hills of Morgan, which are finely adapted to grazing and stock-raising.
INDIAN OCCUPATION.
To hunt and fish were the objects that brought the In- dians from the Ohio to the hills and streams of Morgan District. They had temporary hunting camps and villages, at the mouth of Cobun's creek and other places, where mussel shells, arrow heads, etc., are to be found to-day.
DESTRUCTION OF THE DECKER'S CREEK COLONY.
Withers makes their destruction to have taken place at the mouth of Decker's creek, while tradition makes that sad event to have been two miles up the creek at Philip Har- ner's. Tradition also has it Decker (meaning a Decker, as there was more than one) was bitten by rattlesnakes, by
649
MORGAN DISTRICT.
one account, and killed while escaping from Indians. An- other tradition makes him throw his scythe over a fence in some grass and jump over to cut grass for his horses. He lit in a bunch of copper snakes, and was bitten to death. This last tradition needs the omission of the scythe, be- cause scythes did not come into use till long after the last trace of a Decker in the county. (See page 35.)
EARLY SETTLERS.
The following are among the pioneer settlers of Morgan District :
1758-Thomas Decker 1770-Alex Parker 1773-Wm. Haymond
1765-Col. John Evans
1770-James Russell 1774-Peter Parker
--- Garrett Decker
1770-Alex Burris 1774-John Large
1766-Nicholas Decker
1770-Jonathan Cobun 1774-Josiah Veach
--- David Morgan
1770-Francis Tibbs
1774-Thomas Hurbert
1766 -- Zackwell Morgan 1770-Lewis Rogers 1772-Michael Kern 1772 -- James Templin
1774-Elijah Burris
1769-Samuel Owens 1770-Wm. Joseph
1775-Henry Haines
1770-Edward Dorsey
1772-Isaac Lemasters
1775-N. Harris
1770-John Burris
1772-Jacob Miller
1775-Jonath. Newland
1770-John Burke
1772-John Woodfin
1775-Wm. Houghland
1770-Conrad Crouse
1772-Richard Fields
1775-James Stockwell
SETTLERS' FORTS.
From 1774 to 1776, all the settlers' forts and block-houses were built by the whites for protection against the Indians.
Kern's Fort .- It was a stockaded fort, built on the lands of Michael Kern, just back of the present Fair Ground, and between the old Kern's house (now occupied by James Reay) and Decker's creek. It had a command of the sur- rounding country. It was among the largest forts in the county, and was the general rallying ground, in times of , more than usual danger, for the west side. Nothing re- mains to mark its dimensions or site, and neither record, tradition or human memory offers anything further of it.
Cobun's Fort .- It was two miles from Kern's Fort, on
1774-Arthur Trader, Jr
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HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
lands of Jonathan Cobun, and was near Dorsey's Knob. Not even its exact location can be determined. It was either on the lands of Richard M. Dorsey or Clark Everly.
Burris' Fort .- It was on the "Flats" on the Burris land, but nothing of it comes down from the past to the present but its name. Its location can not be determined, beyond what is above given.
GROWTH OF THE DISTRICT.
The growth of Morgan District, like the balance of the county, has been slow ; yet it has been sure, until to-day the district stands with 25,615 acres of area, the sixth district in size, of the seven present districts into which the county is divided.
In 1880, with 2,772 inhabitants, it is the most populous district in the county. In 1883, with $935,084 of wealth, it is the wealthiest district in the county.
At this late date it is impossible to trace all the men who have been instrumental in settling, in building up and im- proving the territory of the district. William Joseph (orig- inally written Josephs) came here from Delaware in 1770. He married Saralı Stafford and settled where E. Jackson Evans lives. They had four daughters and five sons : Lem- uel, Jerry, Nathan, Hezekiah and John (father of Jerry Joseph, the miller).
Jacob Nuse and his wife, Eve Ann, came from Germany and settled on the old homestead, above Rock Forge, at an early day. They had two sons; one died, and the other, Michael, married Susan Harner. Their children were Jacob, Mary, George, Plebe Ann, Philip, Henry, William, Abra- ham and Michael.
Of the Burris and other pioneer families we can get no account.
651
MORGAN DISTRICT.
George Dorsey, of Elk Ridge, Maryland, came in 1807, and bought the Cobun farm. He married Sisson, sister of Dr. Stevens, of Fayette County, Penn. His son Benjamin was the father of Benjamin M. Dorsey, of Morgantown.
Charles Bennett came into the district about 1778. He next settled on the "Runner Farm," five miles from Mor- gantown, on the Kingwood pike, where he remained until 1806, when he moved to Scioto County, Ohio, and died in 1825, at the remarkable age of 116 years .* He had several daughters, and four sons : Charles, Robert, Caleb and John H. John H.t raised a family of twelve children. His oldest son, George Bennett (born July 12, 1794), married a Miss Williams, of New Jersey, and lived on Decker's creek until 1856. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He had two daughters, Mrs. Samuel Tibbs and Mrs. William Molsey; and two sons, John H. and Allen. The eldest son settled in Kingwood, and one of his sons is the Hon. E. A. Bennett, of Cabell County, who was a major of volunteers in the late war, serving four years, and who was State Auditor from 1871 to 1877.
Abram Guseman came from Martinsburg in 1779, and settled on Decker's creek, and built the Hagedorn mill. His son, John W. Guseman, lives at Reedsville, Preston County. Henry Runner married Elizabeth Thomas, and came from Maryland. Their sons were Michael, William, Daniel and Lewis W., who lives one mile above Morgan-
* It is related of him that on the day he was 116 years old, he was called on gener- ally by his neighbors and friends, who brought congratulatory messages. One of these said : "Uncle Charles, you have now reached your sixteenth year a second time, and I suppose you ought to be again enrolled in the militia " (sixteen being the age fixed by law). " Oh, no," said he, "I have served a tour of one hundred years and am now rather expecting an honorable discharge." Sure enough, this came a few weeks later, and the aged militiaman was mustered out.
t The ages of John H., his wife and twelve children, aggregated 1,037 years, or 74 years each, and two are still living.
652
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
town. John Kennedy came from Maryland, and married Mary Runner, at an early day.
CIVIL LIST-MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT OFFICERS, 1852-1863.
JUSTICES. 1856. 1860.
'852.
Henry Kennedy
Manliff Haves
Augustus Haymond
Daniel Haldeman
Francis Madera
George M. Reay
Henry Dougherty
James Hawthorne
Lee Roy Kramer
Lee Roy Kramer
CONSTABLES.
1852-Henry Swindler, T. F. Hurry 1856-Edwin Clear, Elias Stillwell
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-1863-1873.
1863.
JUSTICES. 1867. 1871.
J. J. Fitch
B. F. Baldwin James A. Davis
J. R. Fleming
Manliff Hayes CONSTABLES.
Manlift Hayes
1863-Harvey Staggers, Kinsey Fife 1869-Uriah Rider, Kinsey Fife 1865-S. G. Chadwick, Kinsey Fife 1871-Uriah Rider, James Odbert 1867-Thos. M. Johnson, Kinsey Fife
INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS.
1863-Manliff Hayes, D.H.Chadwick 1868-E.C.Finneil, W.R.Pastorius 1864-Manliff Hayes, D.H. Chadwick 1869-G. M. Reay, J. W. Guseman 1865-Manliff Hayes, D.H.Chadwick 1870-F.W.Thompson, J.C. Wallace 1866-J. A. Davis, F. W. Thompson 1871 -- F.W.Thompson, Ed. Shisler 1867 -- F.W. Thompson, L. S. Layton
SUPERVISORS. TREASURERS. OVERSEERS OF POOR.
1863 -- F. R. Sinclair
1863 -- F. K. O'Kelley
1863 -- Asa Hall
1866 -- Manliff Hayes
1864 -- William Lazier 1867 -- Eph. Choeus
1867 -- James Evans 1865 -- J. A. Davis 1868 -- Asa Hall
1868 -- F. R. Sinclair
1866 -- J. C. Wagner CLERK.
1870-S. B. McVicker 1867 -- J. A. Davis 1863-73 -- E. H. Coombs
DISTRICT OFFICERS-1872-1884.
JUSTICES.
1872-James A. Davis 1876-F. W. Thompson 1880 -- William Jackson Harvey Staggers Harvey Staggers Harvey Staggers
· CONSTABLES. 1876 -- John S. Dering 1880 -- W. I. Protzman
1872- U. Rider
James Odbert James Odbert Levi Shumaker
TOWNS AND POST-OFFICES.
The only town and post-office in the district is Morgan-
653
MORGAN DISTRICT.
town, while Uffington is close to one border and Easton is on another boundary.
ROADS.
The old Kingwood road-the oldest road in the county, described on page 536-runs through Morgan District. The Morgantown and Bridgeport Turnpike, or river road, runs along the river in the west and north-west of the dis- trict. The Kingwood, Morgantown and West Union Turn- pike passes through the district to the south-east, and the Pennsylvania, Beverly and Morgantown Turnpike runs through the district from Collins's Ferry to Morgantown, and thence to Evansville, Preston County. Besides these pikes, there are several county roads. In 1882, the district was divided into seven road districts, and the following per- sons were appointed supervisors in them :
District No. 1, Jonah McMillan ; No. 2, Wmn. Peterson ; No. 3, J. B. Kennedy ; No. 5, Garrison McClure ; No. 6, Samuel B. Mc Vicker ; No. 7, Joseph A. McClarnan.
MILLS.
The first mill in the district (and with Ruble's mill the first two in the county) was a log mill erected by Michael Kern just above the site of the present Morgantown mill. Some years later Kern erected a better mill on the site of the present Morgantown mill, which was erected by John Rogers in 1826, and passed into the possession of Dr. Mackey in 1867. Jerry Joseph & Son at present are in charge of this mill.
Michael Kern, Jr., built a mill one mile below Morgan- town, on the river, which did a large business. In 1867, it passed to James Allender, who sold, in 1872, to Jacobs. A saw-mill and carding machine was attached to it. The slacking of the river destroyed the dam and the mill was
1
654
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
torn down. Thirty years ago, it did a wonderfully large business. Hagedorn's Mill was built about 1807, by Abram Guseman, and was in the possession of the Guseman family until 1869, in which year it was bought by Lewis Hage- dorn and Peter J. Weinig. Mr. Hagedorn came from Han- over, in 1853, and has the reputation of being well read and a firm friend of free schools. He and Mr. Weinig still own and operate the mill.
Henry Molisee has a small grist mill and blacksmith shop seven miles above "Rock Forge," on Decker's creek.
ROCK FORGE.
This place is three miles above Morgantown, on Decker's creek. A forge, company store, stone mill, blacksmith shop and other buildings were erected. A second forge was on the creek above it, and Valley Furnace (a quarter stock- capacity 3 tons in 24 hours) stood two and one-half miles from the first forge. In addition to what is given in the Industrial History, we have gleaned the following : The Decker Creek Iron Works were not always under control of one management. In 1856 or 57 James H. Crane took charge of one forge and a furnace, and ran it about four years. Robert Bendall, and after him James Kinsley, ran the furnace. In 1843, Joshua Crowther and the Rev. Edward Price came from England and inspected the ores on Decker's creek. In 1844, Crowther & Co. bought the works. The Crowthers were Joshua, Joseph and Benjamin, sons of a great iron manager in Wolverhampton, Stafford- shire, England. They ran awhile, but ceased for want of transportation to market, and left, pronouncing the ores and coals abundant and sufficient, when transportation could be secured to market. Joshua located the iron works
655
MORGAN DISTRICT.
at Soutlı Pueblo, Col., for Jay Gould & Co., and managed them until his death, one year ago .. The forges and furnace are gone, scarcely a vestige being left. The mill lies in ruins and but a few houses remain. Charles J. Johnson, since 1873, has ran a wagon-making and blacksmith shop at the site of the lower forge.
IRON VALLEY & MORGANTOWN RAILWAY.
This road is projected to run up Decker's creek. On the 1st of April, 1881, T. M. Jackson,* Chief Engineer, with J. C. Meredith and C. E. Grafton, assistant engineers, com- menced at the Preston County line and ran down Decker's creek to Morgantown, and down the east side of the river, a route for this railway. On the 18th of July, 1882, they located fourteen and one-half miles of this route, from Morgantown up Decker's creek to Masontown in Preston County.
NOTED POINTS.
On the Dorsey homestead, on land owned by Warren C. Dorsey, is a hill terminating in a high point, from which a grand view of the country can be obtained. It is said for thirty miles the country can be seen in every direction. This hill has been known for years as "Dorsey's Knob."
McKinney Rocks .- On the south side of Decker's Creek, one mile below the Big Falls, is a ledge of rocks 300 feet high, honey-combed and in curious shapes. They are on lands of Harrison McKinney.t
The Dripping Spring is five miles from Hagedorn's Mill, on the old Kingwood road. Over a rock ledge, for some
* T. M. Jackson is from Clarksburg-a graduate from Washington and Lee Univer- sity, and present county surveyor of Harrison County. J. C. Meredith is from Win- chester, Virginia. C. E. Grafton is from New Cumberland, Hancock County, and is a graduate of the West Virginia University.
t Harrison MeKinney and Joseph, his brother, are sons of Luke Mckinney, who came from Hampshire County, seventy-three years ago to Rock Forge.
656
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
twelve or fifteen feet, water drips and collects in a spring at the base, which has been known for over 100 years as the "Dripping Spring."
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
The Methodist Episcopal denomination seems to have been in at an early day. This district is in the Morgantown Circuit, which embraces Morgan and Union, with nine ap- pointments. There are three M. E. churches: Mellon's Chapel, Rock Forge, on Decker's creek, and Drummond's Chapel, on the "Flats." Woodland church is a union church, but is used by the M. E. denomination. A class meets at the Dorsey school-house. No records of these churches can be found, and tradition supplies nothing definite. The ministers serving on the circuit will be under religious denominations in Union. The present minister in charge of the circuit is the Rev. W. J. Sharps, a native of Taylor County, who has been in the ministry fourteen years and is now serving his third year here.
The Baptists have one church-Pleasant Hill-whose pastors will be given in the appendix if they can be yet obtained.
CEMETERIES.
One of the oldest cemeteries in the district was the old Kern's graveyard, near the site of Kern's Fort, and likely commenced in the forting days of 1774. The old sand tombstones, it is said, were torn up, and the graves of the dead were leveled down by the plow. Human greed for gain had no respect for the sleep of the honored Revolu- tionary dead.
OAK GROVE CEMETERY .* Between the Evansville and Fairmont pikes, a few minutes'
* The certificate of incorporation was filed August 1, 1865, in the clerk's office of the county court. The incorporators were Martin Callendine, W. T. Willey, John J.
657
MORGAN DISTRICT.
walk from Morgantown is "Oak Grove Cemetery" which was laid out in 1865. Ample grounds, neatly laid out and tastefully adorned, greet the eye, where fitting marble appropriately marks the sleep of the dead.
SCHOOLS.
Of the subscription schools of early days but little is known. A school was taught in early days at the Popinaw Spring, near O. H. Dille's.
Morgan school-district is divided into nine sub-districts.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS-1865-1873.
1865-John Mills
1869 -- A. C. Woods
Lewis W. Runner
1870 -- John Mills, president
William Lazier
A. C. Woods
1866-67 -- John Mills
J. R. Fleming
N. C. Vandervort
1871 -- A. C. Woods
George M. Reay
John D. Robinson
1868 -- John Mills
John R. Fleming
- Vandervort
- Kennedy
1872 -- John R. Fleming, president John W. Guseman
1869 -- John Mills
Frederick Breakiron
- - Vandervort
BOARDS OF EDUCATION-1873-1884.
1873 -- John R. Fleming, president ; John W. Guseman and Frederick Breakiron.
1875 -- Frederick Breakiron, president; W. C. Dorsey and James Pixler.
1877 -- Coleman Vandervort, president; J. C. Davis and Leonard Selby.
1879 -- Lewis Hagedorn, president; Leonard Selby, Joseph Harner, Warren C. Dorsey and Henry C. Baker.
1881 -- J. W. Pixler, president ; E. J. Evans and John Choen.
1883 -- J. O. Vangilder, president ; E. J. Evans and Wm. J. Wells.
SECRETARIES-1865-1884.
1869-72-E. H. Coombs 1873-F. J. Kern 1881-Clark W. Pixler
1872-W. S. Cobun 1877-Jas. N. Davis 1883-Geo E. Vangilder
Brown, E. C. Bunker, Richard B. Carry, J. V. Boughner, Jacob P. Shafer, H. W. Brock and George M. Hagans. On the 5th of August, 1865, they bought 8x acres of land for $900 from W. T. Willey and laid out Oak Grove Cemetery.
42
658
HISTORY OF MONONGALIA COUNTY.
SCHOOL ENUMERATION BY YEARS.
YEAR.
White Males.
White Fe- males.
Colored
Total.
1869
242
213
1
456
1874
265
242
4
511
1875
281
226
507
1876
291
241
541
1877
269
244
10
523
1878.
267
242
7
516
1879
263
229
492
Nothing further than these few years can be found on the school records.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPT. GEORGE WASHINGTON McVICKER .- His great-grand- father Duncan Mc Vicker, came from Scotland to New Jersey, and was a paymaster in the Revolutionary army under Wash- ington. He married Nancy McCollum, and removed to Bedford, Penn. From this place James McVicker, one of his sons, went to the South Branch (of the Potomac River), and there married Permelia McNamar. They re- moved to near Brownsville, Penn., and after a short time started to Randolph County, but stopped in Monongalia County about ninety years ago. James McVicker kept a tavern stand where T. J. Meeks resides, in 1800. His chil- dren were: Elizabeth, wife of Owen John; Mary, wife of William John; Sarah, wife of Purnell Houston; Matilda Buck, James Madison, Maria Costolo and George W.
James Madison Mc Vicker married Catharine Costolo, and their children were: Permelia, who married William Reed (father of J. M. Reed); George Washington, the subject of this sketch; Samuel B .; Rebecca, wife of William Vander- vort ; Amanda, wife of Coleman Vandervort.
George Washington McVicker was born on the 20th of October, 1831. He was raised on a farm, and married Alcin- da Rude. His second and present wife is Mattie M., daugh-
8
659
MORGAN DISTRICT.
ter of Eben Clear. Their children are : Ella, wife of Charles A. Reed; J. C. McVicker, dental student at Philadelphia ; Clark O., salesman with Thornton F. Pickenpaugh; Maude and Bertie C.
In 1857, G. W. Mc Vicker was elected Road Surveyor for the east side of the river, and served two terms. He was elected Sheriff in 1866, and served till 1870, In 1872, he was re-elected for four years, and, in 1880, was again elected for a term of four years. So far, Capt. McVicker has been the only one ever elected for three terms of the sheriffalty in the county.
He helped raise Co. D, 3d W. Va. C., in August, 1862, in which he was commissioned Lieutenant, and upon the death of Capt. Utt, he was commissioned as Captain, July 18, 1863, and served as such until the close of the war, being mustered out June 30, 1865.
Capt. McVicker, with Co. D, participated in sixty-five battles, engagements and skirmishes. Among the battles and engagements were Winchester, Wytheville, Blacksburg, Lynchburg, second Winchester, Boonesboro', heavy battle at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Dinwiddie Court-house and Moorefield. For several days prior to Lee's surrender, the Company was engaged every day in one or more skirmishes and engagements. Capt Mc Vicker, with his company, was present on the 9th of April, 1865, at Appomattox, when the civil war ended by the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Grant.
JOHN ROBINSON came from England in 1815, and settled at Valley Furnace, Preston County. He moved to this county in 1835. His son John D. is the only survivor of the family. He married Eliz- abeth Hill in 1849; children-F. M., J. H., M. E., E. L., J. O., W. R., W. S. and Margaret, who married P. F. Harner.
CHAPTER XXX. UNION DISTRICT.
Geographical Boundaries and General Description-Geology of Cheat River Canon-Hanging Cliff-Brock's View-Eagle Cave -Mound Builders-Indian Occupation : Buffalo Pound, Cataw- ba War-path-White Pioneers and Early Settlements-Fort Dinwiddie-Peirpont's Fort-Growth from 1770 to 1884-Civil List-Polling Places-Towns : Stewarttown, Easton-Roads- Mills-Mail Service-Jackson's Iron Works-Summer Resorts- Camp Eden-The Lock-Projected Railways-Religious De- nominations-Cemeteries-Schools. .
UNION DISTRICT is bounded on the north by the State of Pennsylvania, from which it is separated by the Mason and Dixon line; on the east Chestnut Ridge separates it from Preston County ; on the south and south-east it is bounded by Morgan District, from which it is partly separated by West's run; and on the west the Monongahela River sepa- rates it from Cass District.
The territory comprised in Union District in 1807 consti- tuted the northern portion of the First (constabulary) Dis- trict, of the nine established that year. In 1831, when the county was divided into four such districts, it again con- stituted the northern portion of the First District. In 1852, its territory became the larger part of the First Magisterial District of the seven such into which the county was divi- ded. In 1863, Union Township was established embracing the territory of the present district. In 1873, Union Town- ship, by a change of designation merely, became the present Union District.
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