History of Pickaway County
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This file was contributed for use in the OHGenWeb Pickaway County by Lorriane
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Formation of Pickaway County
First settlements in the territory comprising the county were in 1796 or 1797,
the first cabins being those of squatters built in the Pickaway Plains on the
"trace," leading from the crossing of the Hockhocking (now Lancaster) by the
plains to Chillicothe. The first town was laid out at Westfall on the site of an
old Indian town, the land secured by Abel Westfall. The territory was then
within the limits of Hamilton County, and the plat for the town is recorded in
Cincinnati. By 1798, a few cabins were erected 6 to 8 miles apart on the "trace"
leading from Chillicothe by way of Westfall, to Franklinton (Columbus) as early
as 1798.
All of the territory on the east side of the Scioto River was Congress Lands,
while the land west of the river was within the Virginia Military District.
Surveyors began their adventurous task in the Spring of 1787 west of the river.
The VA Military Land was at first in greater demand than the plains and other
land on the east side. The By 1801 the Land Office was opened in Chillicothe and
sales of Congress Land commenced. Settlers came in very rapidly and by 1810, the
first census of the county, the population was 7,124.
Pickaway County came into existence March 1, 1810, by act of the General
Assembly of Ohio in session at Chillicothe on January 12, 1910. In the formation
of the county, one township, Salt Creek, was taken from Fairfield County; the
remainder was set off from Franklin and Ross Counties.
The name Pickaway (originally Piqua) which was adopted was of Indian origin. It
is said to have been the name of a numerous family of the Shawnee tribe who
occupied the plains, known as the Pickaway Plains when the first white people
came there.
The house of Henry Nevill, was appointed as the place to hold courts in the new
county until the permanent location of the county seat, the village of
Jefferson. Jefferson was about 2 miles south of Circleville, a trading post at
that time. The town disappeared as Circleville grew and became the new county
seat.
First Settlers of Pickaway Co.
The following list is of the first settlers
(1787-1820) in Pickaway County.
Key to Source Abbreviations:
PKH = History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 1906, Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf
F-PH = History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio, 1880, Williams Bros.
D = Deed Volume/Page Number
Settler |
Origin |
Settled |
Year |
Source / |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple, Pete
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | elected Commissioner | ||
Ater, George
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Barr, Samuel
|
Jefferson | by July, 1810 | PKH p. 20 | tavern license | |
Barr, Thomas
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | Common Pleas Judge | ||
Bennett, John
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | guilty of manslaughter | ||
Bodkin, Charles
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | tavern license | ||
Brotherlin,
Christian
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | Road committee | ||
Burget, John
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury tavern license |
||
Cade, Charles
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Cherry, Reuben
|
died by April, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Creighton, Hugh
|
Harrison Twp. | by June, 1810 | PKH p. 18,20 | 1st grand jury tavern license |
|
Decker, Luke
|
Madison Twp. | by June, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | ||
Denny, James
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | Surveyor of road 1st Clerk of Courts |
||
Douglas, Richard
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st prosecuting attorney | ||
Dresbach, Daniel
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st Director of courts | ||
Emrey, George
|
by Feb. 1811 | Gordon Emery | Md. to Isabella Smith on 18 Feb 1811 in Circleville | ||
Ensworth, Andrew
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | Road committee | ||
Ernest,
Christopher
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Fox, Arthur
|
Virginia | Spring, 1787 | PKH p. 22 | Surveyed VA Military Land | |
Hedges, Joseph
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | store license | ||
Hepner, Benjamin
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Holmes, Jonathan
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | elected Commissioner | ||
Hosselton, Jacob
|
1804 | PKH p. 88 | More Info | ||
Jorden, James
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Kinnear, David
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 18 Hist. p.18 | elected Commissioner | ||
Lippencott,
Samuel
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | store license | ||
Litler, Elisha
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Ludwig, Daniel
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Lybrand, Samuel
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 18 Hist. p.18 | 1st Assessor | ||
Marquis, William
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Martin, James
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Massie, Nathaniel
|
Virginia | 1788 | PKH p. 22 | Surveyed VA Military Land | |
McNeal, John
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | elected Coroner | ||
Miller, West
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Miller, William
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Morris, Ezekial
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Nevill, Henry
|
Jefferson | by 1801 | PKH p. 18 Hist. p.18 | 1st Treasurer 1810 1810-store license |
|
O'Bannon, John,
Maj.
|
Virginia | Spring, 1787 | PKH p. 22 | Surveyed VA Military Land | |
Pontious, George
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 18 | Road committee | ||
Puthuff, William
H.
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st Recorder | ||
Reed, John
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Renick, James
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 18 Hist. p.18 | 1st elected sheriff | ||
Renick, Jonathan
|
Darby Creek | 1800 | PKH p. 18 Hist. p.18 | ||
Renick, Thomas
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Renick, William
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Robinson, John
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Row, Peter
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Seals, James
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Seymour, William
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | Common Pleas Judge | ||
Shanton, Abraham
|
Deer Creek | 1800 | PKH p. 18 Hist. p.18 | ||
Shelby, David
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Shoemaker, Jacob
|
by April, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | Common Pleas Judge d. 1843 |
||
Slycer, Samuel
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 20 | tavern license | ||
Straus, Philip
|
by June, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | |||
Timmons, John
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Westfall, Abel
|
Westfall, Hamilton Co. | ca 1800 | PKH p. 18. Hist. p.18 | 1st secured land | |
Williams, Edward
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Williams, Isaac
|
by July, 1810 | PKH p. 19 | 1st grand jury | ||
Zeiger, Jacob,
Jr.
|
Circleville | by March, 1811 | PKH p. 19, 20 | 1st court house wife, Susannah md. 2nd Jacob Shoemaker |
Darby Twp. is located in the extreme
northwest corner of Pickaway County. The boundary lines of Darby Twp. were not
finalized until 1878 on the eastern side. Until then Darby extended east of
Darby Creek, however its eastern border is now at the creek, with Scioto and
Muhlenberg Twp. to its eastern side, and Monroe and Muhlenberg meeting the
southern boundary. Greenbrier Run is a tributary of Darby Creek; Opossum Run and
Van Buskirk's Run empty into Deer Creek. About 1800, at the time of the early
settlement, the land was covered with forests of oak, hard maple, hickory and
red and white elm.
The first settlements were made chiefly by Virginians, on large tracts which
were leased to tenants. The pioneers never wanted for fresh meat as deer and
wild turkeys abounded in the forests as did predators suchs as wolves, wild cats
and wild boars. A village of friendly Wyandotte Indians lived within the
township on land which later became the farm of David Davis.
Church meetings abounded within the township in early days. The first was a
Methodist denomination begun by Thomas Reynolds, an exhorter, soon after 1800.
The Free Will Church, for any denomination, was formed at an early date and
meetings were held in homes and barns until a log meeting house was built in
1844. Rev. Isaac Henry started a Baptist church in the northwest corner of the
township around 1807. From about 1844 until about 1860 there was a class of
United Brethren in Christ located at Era, then known as Palestine. A Methodist
Episcopal Church was formed at Derby after it became a railroad station. In
addition, the population at Derby later organized a Disciples' Chapel. Era also
supported a Methodist Episcopal Church.
It is believed that John Poulson taught on of the earliest schools about 1815.
Era (Palestine) organized a school which was kept by Miss Emmerett Moore. The
first physician who settled in Palestine was Dr. Olds in 1830; and Dr. C. W.
Higgins was most likely the first physician to located at Derby.
The Harrisburg grist mill was erected by Joseph Chenoweth on Darby Creek around
1830, where he had previously established a saw mill. Elijah Chenoweth and
Alfred Bird built a carding mill at the same place. Two others mills were built
and operated by James Kepler and John G. Garrison.
In 1906 Era was the name of the village previously called Palestine, situated on
Deer Creek near the Madison County line. It was laid out around 1829 by Josiah
Rush and George Alkire who opened the first store. One of the first buildings
erected was a tavern established by Messrs. Mitchell and Pritchard. These were
soon followed by various other stores operated by JohnV. Davis, Samuel
Diffenderfer, Thomas Fellows, Joseph Tenney, Jerrold Sweetland and George Neff &
Son. Joseph Tenney was the first postmaster. Derby was a station on the
Baltimore & Ohio R.R. located in the center of the township, which prospered
with a variety of stores and businesses.
The following township history was submitted by Clark Edwards, clarkedw@cpcug.org, whose 3rd great grandfather, Ebenezer Davis, settled in Williamsport and built the 4th house in the village. Thank you, Clark!
Deer Creek township took its name from the creek which flows through the level
landscape of what is now the southwest corner of Pickaway County. The township
was originally in Ross County, formed out of part of the Virginia Military
lands. Pioneer settlers came largely from Kentucky and Virginia. Among the first
settlers were Simon, Michael, and Isaac Hornbeck, who came up from Kentucky in
1797. Other family names appearing before or near the turn of the century
included Alkire, Ater, Baker, Cade, Colven, Davison, English, Hanson,
McCollister, Myers, Phebus, Rector, Reid, Scott, Smith, Starbill, Taylor,
Wilson, Wolfe, and Yates.
The first birth in the township was probably Nancy Alkire, daughter of Michael
and Dorothy Phebus Alkire, born in 1803. The first death was probably Mrs.
Davison, mother of Edward Davison. She died in 1803, soon after the family's
arrival in Deer Creek Township. The first suicide was probably that of John
Redin, who set fire to his house before taking his own life, in 1813.
Reverend Barton W. Stone arrived in the township in 1803, after having been a
leader at a camp- meeting, held in Cain Ridge, KY, where the meetings had been
characterized by vigorous bodily contortions. His sect, called New Light, met at
the home of George Alkire. In 1804 the name was changed to the Later Christian
Church. The first meeting house was built in 1810, close to the Tipton
residence. In 1816 a larger meeting house was built on the Christian Cemetery
property, and soon there was another, larger meeting-house. In 1869 an even
larger structure was built on land donated by Ebenezer Davis.
The Deer Creek circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in 1826.
Members met in various dwellings, first at the home of Samuel Parrott and later
mostly at the homes of Peter Hunsicker and James McFarland. A meeting house was
built in 1841; Reverend Francis Wilson preached at the opening. A larger meeting
house was built in 1864.
1826 also saw the first meeting of the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal
Church. Meetings were held at the homes of Henry Rector and Jacob Terwilliger. A
frame meeting house was built in 1838. A larger meeting house was completed in
1859.
The first orchard was established by P. H. Baker by 1810. George Reid planted an
orchard about the same time.
The flowing waters of Deer Creek provided labor-saving power to the early
settlers. Pennell H. Baker's grist mill, built in 1812, was followed by other
grist mills and by saw mills. McGath imagined that the waters of the large pond
then located just east of the creek could supply permanent power for a mill
located on the creek a few hundred yards from the pond. However, the pond was
drained dry in a few days of operation, and the major benefit to the community
was an increase in the supply of good farmland. Most of the mills were
short-lived, suffering from fire, flood, or disuse.
The first distillery was built around 1815 by David Yates. Deer Creek
distilleries provided export goods; customers came from other townships to trade
grain for whiskey. However, this trade was eventually abolished and liquor could
be obtained in the township only for medicinal purposes. All out war upon hard
liquor was conducted by the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars; the Alpha
Grange, No. 59, Patrons of Husbandry, was chartered on June 3, 1873.
The first store was operated on Water Street in 1815 by Mr. Foresman. This store
closed in about a year, and the village was without a store until Joseph G.
Dodridge opened one in 1822.
The first hotel was operated by John Wilson. Later, one was kept by Ebenezer
Davis and, still later, one by John Harmount.
The first postmaster, John Williams, was commissioned in 1816, but he soon
resigned and the office was held by Ebenezer Davis, who turned the office over
to his son, Ebenezer Sigler Davis, in 1835.
The first school in the village was taught by Mr. White in 1818. Some
twenty-five scholars met in a small log house located on the property of
Ebenezer Davis.
The first election of officers for the township was apparently in 1816.
Williamsport was platted on February 27, 1818 and incorporated about 1842. At
first, annual elections were held, but village leadership was indifferent and
the incorporation lapsed. The 1858 elections revived the community until another
lapse during the civil war. A third organization, on July 2, 1866, was
accompanied by the addition of 20 lots on South Water Street. While this
organization managed to survive, village officers continued to display a degree
of indifference for some years after the war. Wartime price levels were held for
years as trade drained away to nearly centers, including Circleville. During the
1880s business leaders began to develop local and export trade and the village
became more lively.
The Williamsport Cornet Band was organized February 5, 1876, led by Captain
William B. Davis. It's 13 members had a fine set of instruments, costing some
$325.
There is a chalybeate spring near Williamsport. The water tasted like iron, and
was said to have medicinal properties. It attracted users from miles around.
Harrison Township was a part of the Congress Lands and was not open for settlement until 1801, however, squatters began settling here as early as 1798 and made improvements which entitled them to first choice at government land sales. The township is bounded on the east by Walnut Creek and on the west by the Scioto River. Fish were plentiful and the settlers created seines of grapevines and brush to reap this harvest. The bottom lands south of South Bloomfield were treacherous during early floods in 1805 and 1814. It is reported that the flood of 1805 saw all of the land between the Scioto and Walnut Creek covered with flood waters. The land at this time was covered with a dense growth of hardwood timber, except for the plains around South Bloomfield.
The erection of the township government took place on June 15, 1810, and the
first election was held June 23 of the same year. The vote was cast at the home
of Hugh Creighton, whom became one of the first Justices of the Peace. In the
year 1807 Michael Millar, of this township, and John Davis, from near Columbus,
took a boatload of pork from below Chillicothe to New Orleans by river,
returning on horseback. The first mail route through South Bloomfield was
established prior to 1812, which was carried by post-boys on horseback from
Chillicothe to Franklinton. Later stage coaches carried the mail. The Ohio Canal
was built through this township between the years 1825 and 1830 which employed
many of the settlers. In 1804 James Short built a still-house below South
Bloomfield. Simon Headley built a grist-mill near the South Bloomfield bridge
which continued under the proprietorship of a Mr. Van Gundy. A ferry was
established above the mill dam for people from the west bank to cross the river
to the mill with their grain. In 1809 a saw and grist-mill on Walnut Creek was
owned by James Short and a Mr. Shafer built a horse-mill in the eastern part of
the township.
In 1812 two distilleries were built near Ashville and were owned by William and
Richard Stage. The land that is now Ashville was at that time primarily the
property of Richard Stage. After many years he sold his distillery to Mahlon
Ashbrook, who did a large business. He also built a grist mill on Walnut Creek
about 1845 and owned a large store until about 1855. A few years later the
distillery was also closed. From then until the construction of the Scioto
Valley Railroad through Ashville and the advent of a depot, business was slow at
Ashville. George C. Morrison became its first postmaster after 1874. Ashville
was incorporated in 1880, with the first mayor being W. R. Julian.
The first church in Harrison township was a Presbyterian Church organized in
1814 by Rev. William Jones. Around 1833 Methodist meetings were held at the home
of Daniel Millar at South Bloomfield during which time services were conducted
by circuit preachers on the Pickaway Circuit. The first church building was
constructed of brick in the year 1837 on land donated by William Renick. In the
eastern part of the township Asbury Chapel of the Methodist Church was organized
in a log schoolhouse about 1835. The Ashville Methodist Church wasn't organized
until around 1885 and was a part of the Ashville Circuit which included Hedges
Chapel and East Union M.E. Churches in Walnut Twp. The Ashville U.B. Church was
originally built in Section 6 east of Ashville, but was moved to town after its
formation. In 1887 the Ashville Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in a
building on Long Street.
South Bloomfield was platted to include 40 acres in 1803 by David Denny who
employed General James Denny to make the survey. During the time of stage coach
travel, South Bloomfield prospered, but with the advent of the canal, one mile
to the east, and the railroad, two miles to the east, traffic through South
Bloomfield dwindled. Hugh Creighton opened the first store there in 1804,
William and John Bradshaw started a second one as well as established the first
post office in 1810. The village was incorporated in 1833, with it's first
president being Thomas Burrell. In 1906 the town had both the Bell and the
Citizens' phones and was lighted by seven patent gasoline lights. The population
in 1900 was 223, which supported a general merchandise store, a grocery store, a
meat shop, two shoemakers, a harness and leather worker, 3 blacksmiths, an
undertaker, a veterinary surgeon and a feed stable. The Harrison Twp. Cemetery
was originally on land donated by Jams Short, to which William Millar added two
acres in 1850. The oldest stone was probably the daughter of Jonathan and Rachel
Holmes, Sarah Holmes, who died in October, 1801, aged 2 years and 5 months.
The first log schoolhouse was built in the eastern part of South Bloomfield in
1808. In one end of the building was the door, and at the other end was a
massive fireplace which extended the width of the room and was fueled with long
logs. The window was an opening created by removing one log the length of the
building, and covering the opening with a lattice-work of sticks. Over these
sticks oiled paper was attached which allowed filtered sunlight into the dark
schoolroom. A frame schoolhouse was built in 1817 and was supported by
subscriptions.
Harrison Twp. had a large number of societies and lodges which were typical of
communities in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Pickaway Lodge, No. 747,
I.O.O.F. had a membership of almost 100 in 1906, as well as its afilliated
auxiliary organization, Linden Rebekah Lodge, owned the Odd Fellows' Building at
the corner of Long and Bortz Streets. Palmetto Lodge, No. 513, K. of P., had a
membership of approximately 100 and owned its own building. Ashville Camp, No.
4,635, M.W. of A., was established in 1897 and in 1906 boasted a membership of
about 65. A tent of the Knights of the Maccabees No. 560, had 30 members after
only one year. Smaller societies included the Ashville Lodge, No. 3,005, K. of
H.; Morral Post, No. 167, G.A.R.; Morral Women's Relief Corps, No. 112; Ashville
Lodge, No. 490, I.O.G.T.; and one which had ceased existence by 1906, the
Knights & Ladies of Honor, Union Lodge, No. 1795. In addition to the above
societies there were two organizations of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, one in Ashville and one in South Bloomfield.
One of the earliest physicians of Harrison Twp. was Dr. J. C. Thompson who
located in South Bloomfield about 1837 and practiced medicine until his death in
1889. Another long-standing physician in Ashville was Dr. Charles Steward whom
also conducted a drug store and was proprietor of the Opera House, which had a
seating capacity of 500. The Citizens' Bank of Ashville was organized in 1894
and the Ashville Banking Company was established in 1906. In the spring of 1899
the Ashville sweet corn canning factory, a part of the Scioto Canning Company
was built. It had a capacity for making 50,000 cans a day during season. Other
industries included a saw mill, two grain elevators, and a brick-yard. In 1906
there were more than 50 other businesses in Ashville in addition to one
newspaper.
Located on the Ohio Canal between Ashville and South Bloomfield is Millport, so
named because of its large mill. As early as 1810, Stephen Short erected a
distillery here, and by 1837 Richard Stage laid out lots for the village. Stage
also established a pork-packing business and a warehouse near the canal. In 1906
the village still supported 3 groceries. Duvall, in the northern part of the
township, was a station on the Norfolk & Western Railway which had a population
of about 50 in 1906. Also, one grain elevator, a tile factory, a general
merchandise store, a dealer in agricultural implements and hardware, and a
blacksmith shop were all contained within the village.
It is said that the earliest survey in the state was made in 1774 in Jackson Twp. by John Joliff, a private soldier in Lord Dunmore's army. This survey encompassed 4,000 or 5,000 acres and was later confirmed by the courts and was made without compass or chain. Jackson Twp. lies west of the Scioto River and east of Muhlenberg and Monroe townships. Darby Creek passes throughout from the northwest to the southeast and supported numerous grist mills and sawmills, the earliest built by William Marquis. The older mills had disappeared by the turn of the century, however mills built as early as 1833 continued their operation until near the end of the century mark. Because of its location within the Virginia Military District many of the early settlers were from that state.
The Presbyterians established Florence Chapel in 1877, a small branch of the
Circleville Presbyterian Church. The first meetings of the Methodists were held
at the cabin of John Rush on Darby Creek and at the home of William Littleton on
Lick Run. As the membership grew meetings were held in a school house until a
building was erected in 1864. The Renick Methodist Episcopal Church was
organized in the early 1880s on the Florence Chapel turnpike. Later the Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on Lick Run.
Tombstone inscriptions begin in 1807 in a cemetery on the bank of Darby Creek,
one of several small cemeteries in the township. A larger Jackson Township
Cemetery was established around 1880. The year 1826 was a hard year for the
pioneers of Jackson Twp. An epidemic which they called a malignant sickness
known as the 'cold plague' swept throughout the township and caused the death of
many family members and neighbors.
The first road built in the township was the old State Road which ran from
Franklinton (Columbus) to Chillicothe. Over this road the first weekly mail
arrived in Jackson township. The coach left Franklinton on Friday, stopped at
Marquis' mill overnight and reached Chillicothe on Saturday, returned to
Thompson's on Darby Creek for Saturday night and then returned to Franklinton on
Sunday. A post office was established at Marquis' mill and at Westfall.
The first schoolhouse in the township was erected out of logs just below John
Renick's home in 1807. This was near what the settlers called "Strawberry
Prairie." In 1906 Jackson Twp. had eleven school districts with 277 students. By
the turn of the century the only hamlet in the township was named Fox and had a
population of about 25. The business conducted there consisted of Trimble
Brothers store, first run by James Trimble and later his sons; and a blacksmith
shop.
Early settlement in Madison Township was made on small tracts, as Madison was
included in the Congress lands which were not sold until 1801. The township is
in the northeastern part of Pickaway County, bordered by Franklin Co. on the
north, Fairfield County on the east, on the south by Walnut Township and on the
west by Harrison Township, Pickaway Co. It was established on June 5, 1810, and
is the smallest township in the county.
Walnut Creek is the chief stream which
flows through the western half in a southerly direction. Slate Run and its
branches run through the eastern portion, and empty into Walnut Creek. The soil
is uniformly good, consisting of black loam and gravel on the lower lands and
clay on the hills with many banks of gravel. Hills rise from the eastern side
and slope to lowlands in the west which were swamps in the early days, abounding
in ducks and geese. The forests were the home of deer, turkeys, pheasants,
rabbits, squirrels, and bears were occasionally seen. Many Indian artifacts have
been found in the township, relics of the villages that once occupied the
forest.
Early Lutherans attended church in Fairfield Co. until St. Paul's Evangelical
Lutheran Church (at what was then called Teegarden, now called St. Paul) was
established in 1834, Rev. Joseph A. Roof being appointed their first minister,
where he continued until 1855, and returned for a term in 1860. Their first
church building was built in partnership with the German Reformed congregation.
Trinity Lutheran Church was organized in 1856 in Section 25 on land given by
Jacob Brobst. The Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about
1844 by Rev. Isaac Hunter, but disbanded by 1869 or 1870. The Madison
Presbyterian Church wasn't organized until 1895.
In the center of section 17 was located the first cemetery, on land owned by a
non-resident, Jacob Behenstaugh. No stones were left there in 1906. In 1843 a
cemetery was started by Z. H. Perrill on the old Perrill farm, Nathan Perrill
being the first burial. Other cemeteries exist in the township also. In 1906 six
school districts were in use, including Madison High School. The high school was
established in 1883 at St. Paul, and later a building was constructed in the
center of the township which consisted of two rooms.
Early mills in the township included an oil mill erected by Jacob Shook, which
extracted oil from flax seed, and he later built a saw mill. The first grist
mill was owned by Luke Decker, in 1816 or 1817, and continued operation for 25
or 30 years. Jacob Shafer established a tannery after 1810 and a small
horse-powered mill for grinding. Stills were operated to manufacture whiskey by
William Bishop, Jesse and John Reed and Enoch Henry; a copper still and mill was
operated by William Teegardin. Stone quarries were opened, but the quality of
stone was not profitable. The merchants of St. Paul consisted of G. A. Knepper
and John R. Teegardin's store, which was in turn owned by Teegardin and Julian,
Teegardin solely, next in partnership with his brother, George Philip Teegardin,
passed on to John's son, John, and the same establishment was owned by H. H.
Teegardin in 1906. In 1906 Harley Gatten ran a blacksmith shop and George Bowers
a shoe shop. Rev. J. A. Roof was the village's first postmaster from 1859 or
1860 through 1902 when rural free delivery was begun from Ashville.
Monroe township is surrounded by Perry, Deer Creek, Muhlenberg, Jackson, and Muhlenberg townships, and bordered by Fayette and Madison counties on the west. Deer Creek forms a majority of the southern boundary, and Clark's Van Buskirk's and Mud Runs cross through the township. The soil is mostly clay and the land mostly level. Monroe was organized after the erection of Pickaway Co.
Churches in the township include the Hebron
M.E. Church located in the southwestern part which was formed soon after
settlement in 1799. Meetings were held in log cabins of the settlers and in the
log school-house near Foster's, and was attached to Deer Creek township's
circuit, the early ministers also serving the church at Williamsport. Their
first church building was built in 1838. The Greenland M. E. Church, also known
as Timmons Church, dates to about 1834 when a class was begun by Revs. Philip
Nation and Joshua Boucher of the London circuit. Later Greenland became part of
the Mount Sterling circuit. Pleasant Grove M.E. Church at Five Points, was also
originally part of the London circuit and later Mount Sterling. The first
meeting of eleven members was held in 1849 at the home of John C. Berry. Another
Methodist Episcopal Church, Yankeetown, was established in later years. Clark's
Run Christian Church was formed as early as 1822, but was no longer active by
1906. The Christian Church at Five Points was formed by Rev. Caleb Morris in
1864, and the Renick Church was moved from Darby township into Monroe after 1900
to be used by the Holiness Church.
School districts numbered 14 in 1906, and all but one building was constructed
of brick. Five Points is located several miles southwest of Darbyville. The
first store was established in 1849. In 1851 a post office was established which
served the community until 1906 when residents received their mail by rural free
delivery from Mt. Sterling and Williamsport post offices.
Muhlenberg Twp. was erected 08 Dec 1830, and formed from portions of
Jackson, Scioto, Darby and Monroe townships. It is the 2nd smallest township in
the county. The first survey for a township was made by Judge William Florence
in 1826 or 1827. A change was made in its boundaries in 1851. It is believed the
first election was held in 1831. In 1875 a town house was built on the main
street in Darbyville for $1,200. Darby Creek flows from northwest to southeast
through the center of the township and is the only stream of any size. Darby
Creek derives its name from an old Indian chief who lived on its banks at an
early day. Two small streams are known as Dry Run and George's Run. The land was
covered with a heavy growth of timber: walnut, maple, ash, elm, honey-locust and
sycamore in the black loam of the bottoms and oak on the uplands' clay soil.
This land was cleared by felling the trees and burning the logs or girdling the
trees to expedite the cultivation of the land. Small tracts on the western side
were covered with luxuriant wild grasses that sometimes reached to a man's
shoulders while he was mounted on horseback.
When Virginia ceded this portion of Ohio to
the federal government, the lands west of the Scioto River were reserved by the
State of Virginia for her Revolutionary War soldiers as a reward for their
services. Of this military land, Gen. Peter Muhlenberg owned some 1700 acres;
Henry Baldwin 1200; Henry Massie 1200; while Carter, Copeland and others owned
large tracts. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg was one of the most ardent patriots of the
Revolutionary War. He was a minister when the war broke out, but quickly became
a valiant soldier. The township of Muhlenberg is named after his youngest son,
Francis who settled here in 1820.
This section was the home of the Shawnee Indians. At an early day small bands of
these Indians lived in various parts of the township, even after the country was
partially settled. The Shawnee returned in the spring for the purpose of making
maple sugar. A short distance above Darbyville, along the creek, was located a
large burying ground in the rear of the old camp of the band to which the Chief
Darby belonged. At an early day an Indian duel took place just below Darbyville
at another Indian camp.
A legend has been handed down in the township history of the excursion of Isaac
Van Meter, then well along in years, who mounted his horse and rode into the
woods to gather in some of his hogs that had been fattening on 'shack,' as
acorns and beechnuts were called. He was gone much longer than was expected and
it was not unusual for settlers to become somewhat lost when the traveled away
from a path. His family called for some neighbors for help and they found him 3
miles from home. He had dismounted and tied his horse to a bush and was engaged
in whipping a pole-cat around with a little switch. When asked what he was doing
that for, he declared that he was so cold that it occurred to him that he would
warm up if he would whip that pole-cat for a while. His neighbors escorted him
home, but kept a fair distance from his downwind side.
A Baptist Church was established around 1820 but wasn't in existence long. A
branch of the Presbyterian Church was organized around 1825. Services were held
in member's homes in the winter and in a pleasant grove during the summer. Logs
were rolled together for seats for the congregation. In 1842 a church was
erected in Jackson Twp. near the Muhlenberg township line, and Presbyterians of
Muhlenberg attended church there. The Darbyville M.E. Church had its beginnings
around 1826 at Mr. McKinley's house. Another Methodist church, the Pherson M.E.
Church was established in later years. The African M.E. Church was organized in
the spring of 1878 at Darbyville.
At an early day there were several cemeteries established, most of them family
and neighborhood burial grounds. In 1879 there were eight of these in existence.
In 1875 Darbyville bought 5 acres of ground for a township burial ground.
Perry is the township lying in the extreme southwest corner of Pickaway County. Originally included in Deer Creek Township, it was detached in the early 1820s. Deer Creek forms the northern boundary of the township, while Hay Run and Hamilton Run traverse throughout. The surface is broken by numerous ravines near Deer Creek and the bottom lands produce abundant quantities of grains. The township also contains areas of black loam which are well adapted to corn. New Holland and Atlanta served as stations for the C&MV Railroad.
The township was settled mainly by
Virginians beginning around 1799. The Methodists were the first to hold
religious services in the township, establishing six churches, three of which
were no longer active in 1906: Cedar Grove, the Methodist Episcopal on Hay Run,
and the Locust Grove M. E. Church. The Methodist Churches still in existence in
1906 were the New Holland M.E. Church which was organized before 1825; the
Dublin Hill M.E. Church was established around 1858 and reorganized around 1878;
and the Atlanta M.E. Church which was organized by 1896. The New Holland
Disciples' Church began around 1857 with meetings held at the home of T. Hess
before the construction of their frame building. A large brick church was built
in 1901. The New Holland Presbyterian Church was founded in 1863 and was in
existence only a few years.
The plat of the village of New Holland was acknowledged before Alexander Rowen,
Justice of the Peace, on 02 Sep 1818. The description as recorded in Book B of
the Pickaway Co. Deed Book shows the name was then Flemingsburgh. The village
was incorporated March 9, 1835. Rev. Francis A. Wilson was elected as the first
mayor, and D. Blue, Jacob Hosselton, Reuben Lloyd and Alexander Cochran were the
first trustees. Charles Green was one of the first merchants at New Holland,
dealing in groceries and whiskey while entertaining travelers. George Bohrer
built the first brick block and was a pioneer merchant. The oldest working mill
in the township was Crownover Mill which was first run by a man named Baker in
1812.
At the time the army of Lord Dunmore came
into this country, in 1774, there were a number of important villages on the
Pickaway Plains, specifically in Pickaway Township. In this vicinity were
Cornstalk's Town and Grenadier Squawtown, Camp Charlotte was situated on Scippo
Creek in the southwest quarter of Section 12, and the encampment of General
Lewis was on the southeast quarter of Section 30 on Congo Creek. On the farm
later settled by the Boggs family, later known as Elmwood Farm, was located the
large elm tree where Chief Logan is said to have delivered his famous speech.
The Indians lingered around the region for some time after white settlers
arrived. Their contact with the settlers was uniformly friendly and no trouble
or annoyance was caused by their presence.
The Pickaway Plains makes up the greater part of the township, and it was the
plains that attracted the first settlers of the area because there was no forest
to clear before the first crops could be planted. The first settlers found a
thick grass growing on the plains, so tall that it could be tied over a horse's
back. Soil was so black and fertile in these plains that the early years
produced 100 bushels of corn per acre and 50 bushels of wheat, and thus, the
early nickname of the "Garden Spot of Ohio." The plural "Plains" stems from the
fact that there are two parts: the upper and the lower plains. The surface of
the 47-square-mile township is chiefly rolling outside of the Plains, which is
almost perfectly level. Scippo Creek enters the township in Section 12, and
flows throughout the northern part of the township to the Scioto River. Congo
Creek flows through the southern part and unites with Scippo Creek a mile above
its mouth. The Kinnickinnick is another stream worthy of mention.
The first cabins were erected in 1796 or 1797 along Zanes' Trace, which led
through the plains from the crossing of the Hockhocking River (now Lancaster) to
Chillicothe. It is believed that Caleb Evans was the first white settler, and
his daughter, Mary Evans, was the first white child born in the township, and
probably the first in the county, her birth date being June 8, 1798.
The first Methodist class was organized at Salem, now known as Meade, as early
as 1802 or 1803 when a log meeting house was built. This was replaced with
another log building in the fall of 1816. Emmett's Chapel Methodists organized
on the plains and held meetings alternately with the Presbyterian Church which
organized in 1808.
One of the earliest settled townships of the county, Salt Creek Township comprised territory taken from Fairfield County to form Pickaway County in 1810. The land in the township was not for sale by the government until 1801, however, squatters came before that, attracted by the fertile lands along Salt Creek. Some remained and purchased the land they had made improvements on, while others moved to other territory.
It is six miles square and is bounded on the north by Fairfield County, on the
east by Hocking County, on the south by Ross County and on the west by Pickaway
township, Pickaway County. Salt Creek is the principal stream running throughout
the township, with tributaries of Laurel Creek, Moccasin Creek, Pike Hale Run
and Plum Run. Scippo Creek a branch of the Scioto River crosses sections 6 and 7
in the northwest corner of the township. Prairie lands make up part of the
township as well as forested foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Wild game
consisted of turkeys, deer and small game. Wolves were annoying to the settler
with their constant howling and sheep attacks. The last bear killed in Pickaway
County was shot in Salt Creek township in 1840 by Jonathan Dreisbach and John
Reichelderfer, who shot the animal simultaneously after it had been treed.
On April 6, 1810, William Drury and Jacob Lutz were appointed Justices of the
Peace. Part of Adelphi was attached to Salt Creek on March 7, 1843.
Early churches abounded in Salt Creek Township. As early as 1805 the Salt Creek
Baptist Church was organized in the southwestern portion of the township, the
name being changed in 1812 to Union Baptist Church. Until a meeting-house was
constructed of hickory logs in Section 28, services were held in the log cabins
of the settlers. About 1841 a church building was erected at Prairie View (now
Whisler), and was no longer in existence by 1880. The German Reformed Church was
organized at Tarlton about 1807 by Rev. George Wise of Lancaster. About the same
time the German Lutheran society was formed and the two united in the building
of a log meeting house, which was replaced about 1830 with a combination log /
frame building. In 1861 the Reformed congregation built a brick church and the
Lutherans built a frame building, and later changed the name to St. Jacob's
Church. Rev. Samuel Jacobs converted to Cumberland Presbyterians, taking most of
the congregation with him, which later became the Tarlton Presbyterian Church. .
The Presbyterian members prevailed in the ownership of the building and the
Reformed members built a frame church which existed until about 1875. St.
Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Tarlton was organized November 8, 1861.
The Whisler Presbyterian Church began as a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation
in 1859, meeting in a frame schoolhouse. Jerusalem Church, or Stumpf Church as
it is frequently called, was organized about 1820 as a German Reformed society
by Revs. George Wise and Jacob Leist, one of the earliest pioneer preachers of
that time. Services were held in a schoolhouse until 1831 in the southeast
corner of Section 26, when a brick church was built, replaced by another brick
church in 1877.
In 1819 or 1820 German Reformed and Lutheran classes in the western portion of
the township joined to build a log meeting house which later became United
Brethren Church. The Dresbach U.B. Church was formed about 1820 at the home of
George Dreisbach. First members were George and his wife, Henry Dreisbach and
wife, John Dreisbach and Elizabeth Whitesel. In 1829 the brick building was
built on the north line of the township adjoining Fairfield County. The Tarlton
U.B. Church was organized about 1840 by Revs. Lewis, Ambrose and Joshua
Montgomery, and meetings were held at the home of Jacob Larick until a building
was erected about 2 years later. The Tarlton M.E. Church was organized before
1825, the first meetings being held at the home of Abraham Monnett, progressed
to a log schoolhouse until a church was built in 1840. The Whisler M.E. Church,
earlier known as the Oak Grove M.E. Church was formed in 1858 by union of the
Warren schoolhouse class and that at Hallers Chapel. Union Chapel of the M.E.
Church was situated near the home of S.S. McClelland. The English Evangelical
Lutheran Church at Tarlton was formed in 1835 by Rev. Nathan B. Little,
occupying the church building of the Old School Presbyterians until about 1841
when the society erected a new building. In 1875 a church of the Evangelical
Association was formed at Pleasant View, 2 miles north of Whisler, and later
split into two societies who shared the building.
Stumpf burying ground is the oldest known cemetery in the township, the first
person buried there was Jane Defenbaugh who died October, 1804, the ground
donated by George S. Dunkel. The Dresbach U.B. Church is also one of the oldest
cemeteries. Mound Hill Cemetery near Whisler is located near the center of the
township. There are a number of family burial plots scattered throughout.
In 1803 or 1804 the first schoolhouse of the township was built on the southwest
quarter of Section 24. Soon after a log structure was built in Tarlton, with a
man named Mitchell teaching the first term. In Section 33 a log schoolhouse was
built on land owned by Joseph Schoots, Timothy Beach being an early teacher. By
the end of the century, the township had 9 districts. Dr. Otis Ballard located
at Tarlton in 1817 and practiced medicine until 1842. Tarlton Lodge 218, I.O.O.F.
was established March 6, 1853.
Pioneer industry was established first by John Lutz with a sawmill on Moccasin
Creek. In 1810 or 1811 Abraham Barnet erected a sawmill at Tarlton which was
improved to a flouring mill in 1815 by George Wolf, who introduced steam power
about 1830. Sawmills on Salt Creek were established by Dunkel and Stumpf near
Adelphi, and John and Christian Reichelderfer. Crouse's mill handled the milling
needs of the first settlers near Chillicothe, later at Van Gundy's mill on the
Kinnickinick. Jacob Strous built a water powered grist mill in 1820, a saw mill
in 1825, replaced the original grist mill in 1831 and added a carding machine in
1834. A steam sawmill was built at Tarlton in 1849.
Newellstown was the first name for Tarlton, named after Benjamin Newell who laid
out the first lots about 1801. Christopher Myers erected the first log cabin
here and the first store was kept by a Mr. McLane. Jacob Sayler started the next
store. Successive traders were Samuel Lybrand, William and Stephen Julian, and
Singleton & Carr. John Shoemaker kept the first tavern in his log dwelling and
later built the first frame building, and a Mr. Markwood began his tavern soon
after Shoemaker, followed by Adam J. Nye after 1812. The road through Tarlton
was the principal road from Kentucky to the east and General Jackson and Henry
Clay stopped frequently on their way to Chillicothe. The postoffice was
established prior to 1812, Samuel Lybrand being the first postmaster, succeeded
by Adam J. Nye. Other smaller villages in the township are Whisler, Stringtown,
along the Circleville and Adelphi Pike, and Leistville.
Originally a part of Franklin Co., Scioto Township's borders changed often with the organization of Jackson Twp., Muhlenberg Twp. and Darby Twp. It is presently bordered by Franklin Co. on the north, the Scioto River on the east, Muhlenberg and Jackson townships on the south and Muhlenberg township and Darby Creek on the west. At an early date traces of earthworks indicating a form of defense and burial mounds were found on the bluffs of the Scioto. Settlement in Scioto Township was delayed because of dense forest growth and the lack of prairie lands. Land was sold in large tracts here, which limited the numbers of settlers per farm. Most of the early landowners were from Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Nathan Rawlins was one of the first
justices of the peace and lived on the Franklinton Pike. He kept his ledger 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 Bloomfield bridge to enable the
settlers to cross the Scioto to Crampton's mill on the east bank of the Scioto.
Jacob Fishel was the first blacksmith in the township, establishing his shop by
1811. Robert Seeds fired the first brick around 1815 or 1816. The first sawmill
was built on Edward William's farm about 1808. Distilleries flourished in the
township in the early days. A grist mill was built by Van Gundy on the Scioto
and two were run on Darby Creek by Thompson and Kepler. Early school teachers
included Mr. Perkins, Mr. McGinnis and "Jack" Stinson. William Herbert taught
school about 1814 in a log schoolhouse on the Edward Williams tract. In 1906 the
township had 13 districts .
Wiley H. Beckett came from eastern Virginia in 1829 and settled on a 238 acre
tract west of the present Commercial Point. In 1841 he laid out a town which he
named Genoa. James H. Burnley came from Virginia in 1832 and laid out a similar
town east of Genoa and called it Rome. The first store was established in 1844
by Wiley H. Beckett. Genoa was incorporated in 1851, which encompassed Genoa and
Rome. The name of the village was changed in 1872 to Commercial Point. Orient
was established later in the 1800s as a station on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad in the northwest corner of the township. A small settlement of about 50
inhabitants in the western section of the township was originally known as
Jacktown and later called Matville; while another small settlement was made in
the southern part which was called Robtown.
Churches in Scioto Township included the Commercial Point M.E. Church,
established in Scioto Township between 1829 and 1834, in a log building called
Point Pleasant Church. In 1854 a small brick church was built, a portion of the
walls and roof were blown down in 1873 and a new building was built in its
place. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Orient was established around 1890.
Three miles east of Orient is the King's M.E. Church of Darbyville Circuit. A
Baptist society was organized about 1829 at Darbyville, and was moved to
Matville in 1874, 2 miles west of Commercial Point. The Scioto Chapel class of
the United Brethren in Christ was organized at Robtown about 1843 in an old log
schoolhouse which was replaced in 1875 with a frame structure and renamed Scioto
Chapel. It is a part of the Ashville Circuit of the U.B. Church. About 1829 the
Presbyterian Church was organized at the home of James Miller, a mile north of
Commercial Point. A log church built on a lot later used as the township
cemetery was erected about 1835 and used until 1857 when a frame church was
built.
The first burial ground in Scioto township was on Thompson's Hill and the first
burial was that of a Mrs. Welsh, mother of James Welsh, date unknown. The first
marked grave is of William Mires who died 22 Sep 1819. Several small family
cemeteries included the Foster burying-ground near Orient. In 1845 John and Jane
Mundell deed a 2-acre lot to the Presbyterian Church for burials. The first
burial was that of Thomas Fullerton in 1835. The oldest person buried is Mrs.
Margaret Shannon, from Scotland, who was aged 103 years at her death. She was
proud of the fact that the last person she danced with before leaving Scotland
was Robert Burns.
While there were trappers camping here
prior to 1797, the first permanent settlement was made in 1797 or 1798. Walnut
Township's organization existed before the formation of the county in 1810. The
western boundary of the township is Walnut Creek which divides it from Harrison
Twp. and the Scioto River, Walnut Creek and Madison Twp. on the north, Fairfield
County on the east, Washington and Circleville townships on the south.
Tributaries of Walnut Creek are Little Walnut Creek and Turkey Run.
The land is a rolling surface, the highest point being at East Ringgold (once
known as Grand View, now Ringgold), several hundred feet above Circleville. The
native timber consisted of walnut, butternut, hickory, maple, oak, buckeye and
wild cherry trees. Near Ringgold are 3 mounds, of a conical shape, extended in a
nearly straight line from east to west with only a few yards between and were 15
to 20 feet in height.
Settlements in Walnut Township consisted of East Ringgold (Grand View), in the
southeastern portion of the township; Walnut in the southwestern corner of the
township; and Brinker's Corners where Jonathan Brinker sells buggies, wagons and
farm machinery.
The manufacture of whiskey was one of the leading industries in Walnut township
in the early days and continued through the building of the Ohio Canal, until
the construction of railroads opened up a means to transport surplus corn. It
was once said that from a certain vantage point on a farm in this township, the
sites of 34 former distilleries could be seen at one time. The first sawmill was
built by Richard Ward in 1811 or 1812 on Little Walnut Creek. As early as 1816 a
second one was built, as well as a grist mill, by James Bell on Turkey Run;
another one was built by William Williamson by 1825. John Hager, Sr., who came
in 1803 built a small log grist-mill on Little Walnut a few years after he
arrived and another mill about 1814 which was re-built by his son, John in the
1850's. Subsequently Samuel Campbell purchased it and it became widely known as
Campbell's Mill. David Glick had a grist mill on Little Walnut. In 1838 Hugh
Creighton & Son built a sawmill on Big Walnut, in 1846 putting in two run of
stone for a grist mill. In 1879 there 4 sawmills in the township, three of which
were operated by steam power. Aaron Stuckey built a sawmill at East Ringgold in
the early 40's which was purchased by Absalom A Peters in 1871. He replaced it
with a new one and sold it to his son-in-law, A. L. Peters. Mills owned by Lewis
Scothorn and Emanuel Westenhaver were both built in 1877.
Early churches include Hedges Chapel Methodist Episcopal in the eastern part of
the township, its meetings held in homes in the community. It was not until 1843
that a chapel was built on land donated by Cyrus Hedges. The East Union M.E.
Church was organized between 1825 and 1830 with 12 members, and in 1835 erected
a brick building for which William Tallman gave the land. Two churches in the
township were associated with the Evangelical Association. Mount Zion's Church (Zinser
Church) was organized in 1830 and a frame building built on the south line of
the township in 1840. It was the first church edifice erected by the
denomination west of the Allegheny Mountains. The first Ohio Evangelical
conference was held in a barn on a farm owned by Solomon Moyer. This church was
abandoned in the 1880's. Emanuel Church of the Evangelical Association was
formed about 1832 and a building erected in 1848 in the southeast corner of
Section 28.
Mount Hermon United Brethren Church was organized in 1833, meetings being held
at the house of James Ward and in log schoolhouses. It's first church building
was built after 1845 on top of a mound in the southeast part of Section 17. The
East Ringgold class of the United Brethren Church was organized in 1865, and
purchased a frame church which had been erected by members of the German
Reformed Church at the Ritter burial ground, and moved it to Ringgold. Bethlehem
class of the United Brethren Church was organized at the home of John Hager in
1835, and a structure was built in 1840. Other United Brethren classes existed
in the Pontious neighborhood which disbanded in 1845, and one which was formed
in 1838 or 1839 at the dwelling of John May, moved to the Albright Church on the
town line, and in 1874 joined the Bethany Church in Washington Twp.
The Warner Church at East Ringgold was built in 1839 on land donated by Henry
Warner. The congregation consisted of German Reformed and Evangelical Lutheran
denomination members which united. Because of differences in forms of worship,
the German Reformed faction erected a frame building at the Ritter burial ground
one-half mile northeast of Ringgold. Later another union was made at the Warner
Church between German Reformed and Evangelical Lutheran. In 1842 a German
Reformed clergyman named Strickland organized a society and then returned to the
East. A Rev. Phillips took up duties there and the North Union Church was built
in 1844. In 1851 a United Brethren class was formed and used the building for
many years. The building is located 2 and one-half miles north of Nebraska, and
adjoined a small burial ground.
The first burial ground was in Section 16, and the first burial was probably
that of a child of Cornelius Williamson prior to 1800. Around 1900 the oldest
inscription was that on the tombstone of Mary Ward, daughter of William and
Nancy Ward, who died September 20, 1802 at the age of 21 years. Reber Hill
Cemetery, one-half mile south of Nebraska, originally contained 32 acres donated
by John Reber. The first burial was that of William Parsons who died July 4,
1877 and the second person was Samuel Weaver (son of D. F. Weaver), who was
buried on Christmas Day, 1877. Many small burial grounds were removed to Reber
Hill.
Before 1810 a school was held a short distance north of the old graveyard in
Section 16, and shortly afterward a log schoolhouse was built. In 1810 a
schoolhouse was erected on the line between Sections 22 and 23, the first
teacher being a man named Mr. Addison. A school was kept as early as 1823 in a
little cabin on a farm later owned by William Reed. By 1900 the township
consisted of nine school districts, each having a well-constructed brick school
house.
Nebraska Grange was organized June 16, 1873, for the purpose of promoting
improved agricultural conditions and better farming methods. It was often the
social center of the area. Annual picnics and outings were attended by 1,000
people.
Washington Township is bounded on the north
by Walnut Twp., on the east by Fairfield County, on the south by Pickaway Twp.,
and on the west by Circleville Twp. It is 24 square miles, 6 miles long by 4
miles wide. Originally, the township extended to the Scioto River and included
present Circleville Twp., which was set off as a separate township in the spring
of 1833.
The streams in this township are Hargus Creek, Hominy Creek, and Scippo Creek.
Native timber varieties were oak, ash, beech, hard and soft maple, walnut,
hickory, butternut and elm. The soil is principally gravel and sand, with a
smaller proportion of good bottom lands suitable for raising corn than are found
in most of the other townships. The first road was the old Lancaster road or
Westfall road as it was originally called, which crosses the northwest corner of
the township. The southwest corner is cut by the turnpike from Circleville to
Adelphi.
The churches of the township were the Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church,
organized as a German Reformed and Lutheran society in 1808 or 1809. The first
preacher was a Rev. Foster. The first meeting house was a two-story log
structure and its replacement was a one-story structure. The St. Paul's Church
of the Evangelical Association was organized about 1830. Meetings were held in
homes until their first church building was erected in 1849 or 1850. The
Pontious U.B. Church was organized about 1830 at the home of Daniel Pontious. In
1848 a church was built on land donated by Mr. Pontious. The Morris U.B. Church,
located in the southern part of Washington Twp., near Thatcher, was organized
about 1842. Bethany U.B. Church was formed in 1838 or 1839 at the house of John
May, subsequently at the Evangelical Church on the southern line of Walnut Twp.,
until 1874. Grace United Evangelical Church was organized in 1893, a frame
structure being erected at the junction of the East Ringgold Turnpike and the
Lithopolis Road.
The first burying ground in the township was the Zion's Church grave yard, laid
out as early as 1809, and the first burial was a child of Andrew Leist. There
were also cemeteries in connection with St. Paul's Church and the three United
Brethren churches.
Washington Township's first school was held in an old cabin of George Hoffman.
Later on a school was kept in a log house on the farm owned by Jacob Greenough.
In 1835 or 1836 the township was divided into six districts.
The smallest township in the county, Wayne
was named after the Revolutionary War General and Indian fighter, Anthony Wayne.
The township lies west of the Scioto River, is bounded by Ross County on the
south, Deer Creek Township on the west, and on the north by Jackson Township.
Plum Creek flows through the county and empties into the Scioto River at
Westfall. Yellow Bud and Wolf Creeks are in the southwestern portion of the
township. The Ohio Canal crossed the Scioto River from Circleville into Wayne
Township. The surface is level except for along the water courses. The soil
consists of sand, gravel and clay, conducive to wheat and corn crops.
Wayne Township was formed prior to the organization of Pickaway County. The
township records were destroyed by fire so much of the early history of their
organization is lost. The first settlers arrived around 1798.
Churches in Wayne Township include a Methodist Episcopal class which was formed
very early, and was held in the home of John Hubbard. Preaching was performed by
Revs. Samuel Parker, Henry B. Bascom and Charles Wattle. In 1830 a frame
building was built on John Hubbard's homestead which was used until the
completion of Union Chapel. The Union society was organized on May 6, 1855,
under the pastorate of Rev. Zachariah Wharton of the Williamsport circuit. In
1859 a beautiful frame building was erected at a cost of $1,600. In 1818 a
Baptist society was formed at the schoolhouse of District No. 3, which held
meetings for only a few years.
The first school in Wayne township was held in a 5-cornered log building in 1814
and was taught by a Mr. Hunt. The structure was indeed primitive, the children
using for seats the timbers intended for the support of the floor. In 1817 plans
were carried out to build a structure strictly for school purposes which was
occupied until 1860, when it was replaced by a brick building. Around 1900 the
township had six brick school buildings in their six districts.
Early industry included a number of distilleries, among which were those of
Abraham Stipp, a Mr. Hamilton, John Fleming and Steely & Morris. The first two
mentioned were in operation before 1810. Around 1828 a small carding
establishment on the canal was put into operation by a Mr. Sanford from
Chillicothe. William Fleming purchased it some years later and installed the
machinery to manufacture cloth. A horse mill for the grinding of coarse feed was
built early on the Chillicothe road. In 1817 or 1818 Henry Nevill of Jefferson
built a large flouring mill on the Scioto River near where the old dam is
located. Another flouring mill had been constructed in 1812 on the river
opposite Circleville by William Philip Foresman. This property, known as
Pickaway Mill, continued in business until 1905 with improvements to the mill
made over the years.
Abel Westfall laid out the plat of the village of Westfall, which is recorded in
Hamilton Co. Although at one time Westfall had every promise of becoming a
thriving village, the location ws found to be unhealthy and the town decayed.
Another town that has disappeared is Montgomery, which was one mile south of
Westfall on the canal.