Fairfield County, Ohio - The whole text, 1877 (part 2 of 7)

The editors of the Gazette have been: George Sanderson, Wm. J. Reeoe, D. L. Moler, James Percivill, George Weaver, Thomas Slaughter, George McElroy, Joshua Clarke & Son, Dr. H. Scott, Robert Clarke, A. P. Miller, and S. A. Griswold, present incumbent.

There have been a number of other weeklies and campaign papers started in Lancaster at various times, and one daily ; but none of them were of long continuance. We mention the "Independent Press," of 1812; the " Enquirer," by P. Vantrump; "Telegraph," King & Gruber; "Fireside," by A. P. Miller; ;' American Democrat," by W. S. Beaty; "Union," by Miller & Fritter.

The following are the names of the physicians who have practiced in Lancaster from its organization up to the year 1876. To Dr. Charles Shawk and Dr. Paul Carpenter, old physicians of the place, and both still living, I am indebted mainly for the information. The list may be relied on aa en- tirelj' correct. It has not been possible, for the lack of data, to fix the exact time of settlement of the early practitioners. The list, however, begins with those who are known to have settled first in the place. Dr. John Shawk being the first who came to Lancaster and erected his cabin in the woods. Thus : John M. Shawk, Dr. Erwin, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Florence, Dr. Robert McNeal, Dr. James White, M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark, Dr. H. H. Wait, Dr. Deepe, Dr. Wolfley, John M. Bigelow, Dr. Paul Carpenter, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher. Dr. Brecker, M. Effinger, Dr.'Lynch, A. Davidson, G. W. Boerstler, T. 0. Edwards, P. M. Wagenhals, J. M. Lewis, Geo. K. Miller, Geo. Boerstler, Dr. Turner, Dr. Jackson, Dr Frampton, 0. E. Davis, Dr. Dawson, Dr. Kinsman, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, Dr. Harmon, Dr. Myers, Chas. Shawk and Dr. Shrader.

Of these, the following are still resident practitioners in Lancaster, viz. : Paul Carpenter, Dr. Lynch, Charles Shawk, M. Effinger, Geo. Boerstler, J. M. Lewis, Dr. Turner, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, and Dr. Harmon.

Of those who have removed to other parts, and are known to be still living, are : J. M. Bigelow, 0. E. Davis, P. M, Wagenhals, Dr. Shrader and Dr. Kinsman. Dr. Andrew Davidson purchased the drug establishment of George Kaufifman, on Main street, where he still continues.

Those who are known to have deceased previous to 1876, are: John M. Shawk, James White, Robert McNeal, M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark, H. H. Wait, D. Deppe, Dr. Wolfley, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher, Dr. Brecker, Geo. W. Boerstler, Dr. Dawson, George Miller, Dr. Ervin, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr, Florence, Dr. Myers and T. Edwards.

I have not at my command the facilities for learning the names of all the physicians who have practiced in the villages and other parts of the county since its organization, but mention the following from memory : Baltimore : Dr. Gohegen, Dr. Helmic, Dr. Horr and Dr. Sprague. Lithopilis : Dr. Minor and Dr. Eels. Jefferson : Dr. Tolbert. Royalton : Dr Paul, Dr. Dawson and Dr. Reed. Amanda: Dr. Daugherty, Dr. Peters, and the brothers Hewitson. Oakland: Dr. Shaeffer. Clear Creek: Dr. Porter. Sugar Grove : Dr. Brown, Dr. Foster, Dr. Sharp and Dr. Brooks. Bremen: Dr. Evans, Dr. Holcom, and Dr. Frampton. Rushville : Dr. Ida and Dr. Turner. West Rush.

ville : Dr. Dolison and Dr. Lewis. New Salem : Dr. Brock and Dr. Yontz. Pleasantville: Dr. Goss. Millersport : Dr. Brison & Son. Basil : Dr. Maines. Carroll : Dr. Aldred. Dumontville : Dr. Mills and Dr. Bright.

Of Lancaster

" Emanuel Carpenter, died in 1832." [Mr. Carpenter came into the county in 1802, and built his first cabin where Salem Wolf recently resided, near Lancaster].

" Eobert F. Slaughter, died in October, 1846, aged 77 years." " Sarah Slaughter, wife of Judge Robert Slaughter, died in March 1858, aged 63 years."

A Ghost Story

The mental and intellectual status, as well as the social constitution of society, was about the same throughout the whole of the north-western territories, at, or during the logcabin era. The emigrants at first brought with them from the old States their religion, their social habits, their manners and customs ; but residence for a few years in the wilderness, far away from the more densely populated and better conditioned ultra montane lands of their birth, created by a kind of necessity, a state of society peculiarly western, which, passing into history, constitutes an era. The times are referred to as pioneer life, frontier life, backwoods life, the log-cabin era, and the like. The prejudices and superstitions were about the same everywhere; they belonged to the age; they were not peculiar to backwoods life ; old and aristocratic, arid what it is common to call refined and more enlightened countries, have had their ghosts and witches ; Fairfield County has had its ghosts, and apparitions, and witches. The story I am about to tell did not belong to this county, but to a western county of Ohio, and it reflects the times of its occurrence.

It is more than half a century since - three-fourths of all the people concerned are dead ; three-fourths of all the people of our settlement believed in apparitions, witches and supernaturalomens. Salem Witchcraft, so-called,hadinfuseditself over the entire country, and there were few neighborhoods that had not had, at one time or another, their ghosts, and witches, and occasional visitants from the land of " Deepest Shade." Sounds and appearances now well understood, and that disturb nobody, were then supernatural. Several volumes would scarcely suffice to narrate all the signs and wonders and incidents that, during that more diffused dominion of superstition, held the people in awe. The celestial realms, as well as the land of demons were represented on earth occasionally. But as the fogs and miasmas of the wilderness have lifted, so has the mind been cleared of much of its superstition by the brightening rays of science. But neither have the fogs nor the mental sombre quite all gone, though the luminaries seem well up from the horizon. But no matter for all that, our neighborhood had its ghost, which the writer never saw but once, and we shall presently see how.

A majority of all the people within a radius of five or six miles around had seen the apparition at some time ; it usually assumed the size and form of a human being, and always clothed in pure white. It was seen by persons returning from night meetings and other gatherings, and sometimes .by solitar}"^ persons who chanced to be abroad after night. There were two small graveyards in the settlement, and two or three waste cabins by the road sides that had been once occupied, and afterwards vacated. These were the points where his ghostship usually chose for his materialization as mortals passed by in the dark. The neighborhood had been in the utmost terror at times during more than two years, and it came at last to be, that only a few could be found brave enough to undertake to pass either of the graveyards or waste cabins alone in the dark. Even those who assumed to ridicule the stories that were told about the ghost, would always prefer to have company when their business required them to pass those places in the night time.

Two theories were canvassed, the first of which was, that a peddler had previously disappeared from the settlement, and under the dark apprehension that he had met with foul play, it was believed that his troubled spirit was hovering about The other theory was, that a company of North Carolina explor-' ers who had penetrated the county before the settlement began, had foully murdered one of their number, and buried his body in the forest not far, as was believed, from there, and that his perturbed spirit could not go to rest unavenged.

My father's farm was separated from that of neighbor H. by a partition fence, ours being situated on the north side. The distance between the two houses was about one-third of a mile. On their side was a stubble-field and peach-orchard; on ours was a cornfield. At the crossing of the partition fence was one of the little graveyards before referred to. It was grown up with scrubby bushes, which partially concealed a few mossy palings and log-pens that were placed over some of the graves. Altogether, the graveyard was a neglected spot.

There was a corn-husking and quilting at the house of our neighbor. It was the latter part of October, and the weather was mild, and of that kind commonly spoken of as Indian Summer. At about two o'clock in the night the work had all been finished, and the supper over, and the folks were begining to depart for home. Two brothers, two sisters and myself, with half a dozen other young folks were going to cross the field, which would take us directly past the graveyard. We were strongly fortified, and believed we should not be much afraid of ghosts ; still, all of us, I think, would have preferred daylight for the walk. We had got as far as the door of the new house, where part of the young people were going to finish the night with a dance, and were halting a little to listen to the fiddle, when, by accident, I chanced to turn my face in the direction of the old house, some three or four rods distant, when I caught a glimpse of three chaps as they came out of the kitchen door, and whipped around the corner to the right. But their movement was not so quick as to prevent me from seeing a roll of something white under one of their arms by the aid of the burning candles in their rear. -It'occured to me at once that the scamps, knowing that we were starting, were intenfling to anticipate us at the graveyard and give us a fright. I plucked the boys to one side and whispered my discovery and my suspicions. We called the girls, and hurried across the peach-orchard to where the stubbles set in. Here- we left them under cover of a peach tree.

while six boj^s of us hastened across to the fence. The wouldbj-ghosts we knew would have about three times our distance to go, and we knew we were ahead of them time enough to complete our plans.

One of our number stood six feet in his stockings. He was, moreover, not much afraid of spirits, either in or out of the body, and he at once volunteered to take the role of ghost. He wore at the time white pants, and when divested of coat and vest, was white all over. He then went in among the bushes and laid flat down by the side of one of the little log-pens, where he was entirely hid from view, while the balance of us prostrated ourselves snugly in the fence corners to await what might follow. It was not more than a couple of minutes before the rustling leaves and cracking sticks hearalded the approach of the ghosts. They were coming from the east, and on our side of the fence. They advanced exactly opposite to where the figure lay, and having halted, began to unroll the sheet. I could easily have put out my hand and grabbed one of them by the calf, but J waited. Presently an awful groan issued from the bushes. The scamps were instantly transfixed and petrified. Another groan, and with it a white form began to rise up apparently from the little log-pen ; slowly it ascended, unr til it had probably attained the altitude of twenty feet or more, in the enlarged imaginations of the boys who were standing in breathless awe.

Then a voice, solemn and sepulchral, was heard. It said : " Why, vain mortals, do you come at this silent hour to disturb the peaceful sleepers of the grave f Retire and pray, for where we are, you too soon will he;" and then the apparition sank back apparently into the ground.

The fence was eight rails high, and without stakes or riders. I believed my time had come, and so I reached out from my dark corner and laid hold of a leg, and in the twinkling of an eye the fence rails began to tumble about us with such fearful profusion as to require the greatest activity on our parts to escape with sound skulls and bones, while three pair of long legs were seen making the quickest time on record across the stubble-field, to where the forms disappeared under the peach trees.

It is about fifty-three years ago, but from that day to the present, so far as I have ever heard, no ghost has been reported in that settlement. -

While we are chronicling what the world denominates the dead past and the living present, it will be well if we take plenty of time to think the time all over and see if we can consent that all the claimed advancement of the age is in fact, in every respect, advancement to a higher and better condition of mankind. The world is surely growing wiser (the world of man), but is it growing better? We ought to try to satisfy ourselves whether, in getting wisdom, we are getting good hearts. I am impelled to introduce this suggestion because I fear that morals and religion and secular governments are not as good as they were when the world was not as wise as it is to-day. The art of war, and the art of getting rich are controlling forces now. Are these forces civilizing ? T know it is a common belief that civilization and religious faith are growing rapidly in this second half of the nineteenth century. I do not contradict the claim, but let us pause and consider whether we are not leaving behind the essential maxims, and let me say good manners, good sense, and the golden rule. Where is the golden rule in war and the race for riches, and other popular movements of the age. These are all subjects for grave thought and more earnest and candid consideration than men, in their hurry, are in the habit of thinking. We ought never to lose sight of the fact that there is such a thing as educating the intellect far in advance of the heart and the moral and religious sentiments. And I think none who are careful observers can say, that such i^ not the present course of training the rising generations.

We demand of our orators and writers now elegance of expression and diction, and hencs more attention is given to brilliancy and finely-uttered sentences than to truth and humanizing thought and practice, and the really useful lessons of life. If more pains were taken in the matter of speech than the manner, higher wisdom would be displayed. Teachers should labor more to instruct than to please or amuse. Ambiguity, it seems to me, has usurped the place of simplicity and unostentatious words that convey understanding and use- ful thoughts. The world will condemn a man more for a blunder in grammar, or orthography, or elegance of expression than it will for gross immorality, often, or for the violation of the rule of good manners. To be scholarly is to be correct in grammar, and to be able to quote fine sentiments from popular authors. But he is not fit to be an educator who cares more to please his auditors by brilliancy that he may gain popular applause. And I shall insist that, with all our learning, we can profit much every way by reverting often to the old maxims and usages that we have run away from.

There are some beautiful maxims in the old school books of sixty years ago that the world, has discarded, mainly. At least they are no more printed. But. they are not forgotten by the old people, who, in their school days, were familiar with Webster's Spelling Book, "the easy standard of pronunciation." They will be easily recalled, and will bring the mind back to the little log school-house with its slab benches and oiled paper windows, and to pleasant scenes and joys departed, never again to return. The book has long been out of print ; scarcely a copy of it can be found in existence ; but its precepts live in the memories and hearts of those who were in school sixty years ago, and are still living. I quote from memory the following, which were the first reading lessons, my older readers, you and I learned. How delightful to pass over the lines which bring back fond recollections, and group around us delights we once felt, but which we shall feel no more. The mind at once takes in the twenty or thirty boys and girls and theteacher, every one of whom we knew so well, and we instinctively ask : where are they all now ? Here is the very first reading lesson :

No man may put off the law of God ; My joy is in His law all the day. O, may I not ^o in the way of sin ! Let me not go in the way of ill men.

Do as well as you can, and do no harm. Mark the man that doth well and do so too. Help such as want help, and be kind. Let your sins past put you in mind to mend.

Here is a beautiful poem which will be remembered as standing just before "the pictures" of this old spelling book. The moral it teaches was not taught us by our teachers, and I can remember that we saw nothing in the lesson but the girl, the lamb and the cold blast.

The Lamb

Those who have been once familiar with the quotations, will be all the better men and women by the reproduction and review, because they place the thoughts back before the beginning of the turmoil of life, to where innocence, truth and purity reigned. One more quotation, and we leave the old spelling book. I feel sure my reproductions are literal, though I quote from memory across a chasm of more than fifty years.

" An old man found a rude boy upon one of his trees stealing apples, and desired him to come down, but the young sauce-box told him plainly he would not. Won't you ? said the old man, then I will try to fetch you down, so he pulled up some tufts of grass and threw at him, but this only made the youngster laugh to think that the old man should pretend to beat him down from the tree with grass only. Well, well, said the old man, if neither words nor grass will do, I will try what virtue there is in stones, so the old man pelted him heartily with stones, which soon made the young chap hasten down from the tree and beg the old man's pardon." -

Grape Culture

I am indebted to Mr. J. F. Bovring, of Lancaster, for the following approximative synopsis of the grape culture of Fairfield County. It is in place here to say, that a large proportion of the surface of the county is adapted to the grape, but most especially the south part.

Mr. Bovring estimates, from facilities at his control, the number of acres now planted in vineyards within the county, more or less productive, at three hundred ; others place the number higher. He thinks grape growing, as a business, began in the county about the year 1864. Average product to the acre, in a fair season, 2,000 pounds, equal to 200 gallons of wine. The leading varieties grown in the county are, Catawba, Isabel, Concord, and Ives' Seedling.

Below is a tabulated statement of the valuation of real and personal property within the county, as returned for taxation for four consecutive years. This, however, does not represent the true valuation, as property is never, or seldom, placed on the tax duplicate at its selling value.

Masonic

On December 15th, 1820, Lancaster Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was constituted under charter from the most worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio, with James Wilson for its Worthy Master, Charles R. Sherman First Seignior Warden, and Jacob D. Detrick First Junior Warden.

Lancaster Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized under authority from the M. E. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ohio, on the 12th day of January, 1826, Charles R. Sherman being first High Priest.

Lancaster Counsel of Royal Select Masons was instituted on the 11th day of January, 1828. by John Barker, Esq., as Sovereign Grand Inspector of the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree, Charles R. Sherman its T. I. Grand Master.

Lancaster Encampment, or Commandary of Knight Templars and the appendant orders, was organized December 16th, 1837, under warrant from the General Grand Encampment of the United States. William

Within these respectable and associated bodies, some of the most prominent and influential and best citizens of Lancaster and Fairfield County, found elevated and congenial fellowship.

The" fundamental life-sustaining principles of Masonry have been sometimes misapprehended, and therefore misunderstood. Its mission upon earth has been superbly consequential through all the rough, rude, barbaric, the ignorant, clashing and conflicting ages of the past. It has preserved inviolate and intact the knowledge of one Supreme Creator and universal God ; and it has grandly helped to nurse into activity the beneficent idea of human brotherhood. It will culminate and end whenever the prohpbetical lion everywhere lies down with the typical lamb, actuated with the spotless innocence of the lamb.

Salem Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 87, at New Salem, was instituted in 1842. The charter-members were : M. D. Brock, S. Baker, W C. Galleher, Caleb Coplen, J. Linville, J. Baker, J. H. Baker (7). Number of members in March, 1877, 84.

Baltimore Lodge of F. & A. M, at Baltimore, was instituted October 22d, 1873. Chartei'-members: Harrison Applegate, William Myres, W. W. Luckey, J. H. Schaertzer, D. H. Sands, J. R. Brandt, William Cook, John Sauns, Samuel Fenstermaker, E. K. Grube, G. W. Watson, Thomas Smurr, J. W. Buchanan, Daniel Albright, Lewis Shearer. Number of members in March, 1877, 42.

Napthalia Lodge of F. & A. M., at Carroll, No. 262. Date of charter, October 15th, 1855. Names of charter-members : Jos. Grubb, A. T. Aldred, James Holmes, Andrew Saylor, E. H. Davis, Thos. W. A. Wilson, William Jacobs and John P. Gutelins. Number of members in March, 1877, 40.

[There has occasionally occurred a name in the lists sent me, that it has been impossible for me to be absolutel}' certain of the correct orthography. The last one in the Carroll list was one of that kind. - Ed. J

Rushville Lodge, No. 211, F. & A. M., at Rushville, was instituted in 1852. Charter-menabers : Wm. CouLson, David Wilson, D. M Rea, Wm. Harper, John P. Hodge, N. B. Coulson, N. B. Teel, Daniel Baker, W. Vansant. Number of members in March, 1877, 40.

Lithopolis Lodge, No. 169, F. & A. M., was instituted January 21st, 1848. Charter-members: Joshua Glanville, William Teegardin, Daniel Teegardin, Peter Teegardin, John B. Moore,

Zebulon Perril, Jacob Tee^ardin, Daniel Miller, Joseph Miller, John Smith, W. W. Hite, William Riley, Jacob Shrock and William Jacobs. Number of members in March, 1877, 75.

The regular meetings of this Lodge are held on Fridaj' evening preceding each full moon, but if the moon fulls on Friday evening, then the meeting takes place on that evening.

Amanda Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 509, was instituted October 28th, 1876. Names of charter-members: H. G. Trout, Edward Griner, Levi Lawrence, J. D. Landis, B. F. Rambo, Jacob Balthaser, D. M. Miesee, J. A. Julien, D. J. V. Wolf, Number of members in March, 1877, 20.

Odd Fellowship Chakity Lodge, No. 7

Charity Lodge, No. 7, of Odd Fellows, was organied in Lancaster, Feb. 8th, 1838. Its charter-members were : Jacob W. Holt, B. R. Banes, R. Timber, Jacob Grubb, George H. Arnold, R. P. Hazlett. Number of members at the beginning of the year 1877, two hundred and twenty.

Alpine Lodge

Alpine Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 566, was " instituted in Lancaster, June 2d, 1874, by Jos. Dowdall, F.G. Representative and Special Deputy." Following are the names of the charter-members :

Encampment

The Hocking Encampment of Odd Fellows, No. 28, was instituted Dec. 4th, 1847. Charter-members ; Jacob W.' Holt, Thomas Hyde, Joseph C. Kinkhead, Wm. Baker, Josiah Wilson, B. F. Brannon, James W. Pratt. Present number of members, 220.

Lodges Out Of Lancaster

Sugar Grove Lodge, at Sugar Grove, No. 654, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted Aug. 4th, 1876. The charter-members were : J. V. Sharp, G. F. Hummel, W. H. Elder, W. F. Noggle, L. C. Mathena, R. F. Brown, Joseph Sharp, James H. Foster, Jacob Walter, G. W. Pannabaker, Abraham Ream. Membership in Feb., 1877, eighteen (18).

Central Valley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 548, at Amanda, was instituted July 10th, 1873. The charter-members were : W. H. Dickson, B. Balthaser, T. J. Barr, C. H. Sunderman, T. L. Hewetson, Wm. Acton, W. B. Sunderman, P. Hewetson, H. D. Aldenderfer, George Aldenderfer, David Crites, Joseph Bechtel, Andrew Laps, Samuel Griffith, Sr. Whole number of members in Feb., 1877, forty-five (45).

Weaver Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 486, at Greencastle, was organized July 20th, 1871. The charter-members were : M. B. Custer, A. S. Beaty, Wm. Kiger, Samuel Crist, Samuel Wiser, Elijah Alspach, Y. Courtright, Paul Alspach, H. R. Roller, R. H. Mason, S. P. Crist, J. T. Williamson. Membership in Feb., 1877, fifty-nine (59).

Baltimore Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 202, at Baltimore, was instituted June 11th, 1852. The charter-members were : Casper Fiddler, A. L. Simmons, H. L. Nicely, Wm. Potter, J. Bartholomew, Wm. J. Smart, J. Schlosser, James Pugh, Job McNamee, Thomas M. Watson, Jacob Ketner, John H. Weekly, Frederick Graff, Wm. Paul. Elijah Warner. Whole number of members in Feb., 1877, eighty-three (83).

Fairfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 163, at Pleasant ville, was instituted Oct. 7th, 1850. The charter-members were : Thos. 0. Wilson, Wm. Buchanan, Wm. Cupp, Jacob Bope, Thos. Andrews, Benjamin Walters, John F. Irick, Solomon Weaver, Job McNamee, Adam Shaw. Thomas A. Bratton, Martin Kagay, N. C. Miller, Samuel Cupp, James Brown, Thos. Kidwell. Number of members in Feb. 1877, seventj'-one (71).

Philo Lodge, 1. 0. 0. F., No. 392, at West Rushville, was instituted July 12, 1867. Following are the names of the charter-members : W. B. Strickley, Joseph McFee, H. L. Whitehead, J. M. Strickler, Chas. McClung, James Henderson, Michael Keelm, C. C. B. Duncan, Jacob Lamb. Membership in Feb., 1877, fifty, (50).

Knights Of Pythias Knights Of Honor

Columbia Lodge, No. 27, of the order of the Knights of Honor, was instituted in Lancaster September 9th, 1874. The charter-members were fourteen, as follows : Jno. W. Faringer, John C. Tuthill, John C. Hite, J. M. Sutphen, A. M. Beery, Wm. B. McCracken, Wallace W. Hite, Wm. Bush, Dr. George

Patrons Of Husbandry Capt. Keller'S Letter

Dr. H. Scott - Dear Sir: I herewith hand you the information you requested. The " Grange ' was first organized in Washington City, in July, 1867, with Wm. Saunders, Master, and O. H. Kelly, Secretary. The first Grange organized in Ohio was in February, 1871, which was the only one organized in that year.

Ohio Officers

The first Grange organized in Fairfield County was Rush Creek Grange, No. 67, located at Bremen, in July, 1873; and the following were instituted in the order named :

The last organized was Fairfield Grange, April, 1874. A majority of the above were organized by William Funk, of Rush Creek, who was Deputy during 1874, during which year most of the Granges were organized.

No?. 706 and 725 (Greenfield and Hocking), have consolidated, as have also 838 and 1,148 (Richland and Fairfield). Halls have either been built or purchased by Pleasant. 675 ; Greenfield, 725 ; Cedar Hill, 763 ; New Silem, 971 ; and Fairfield, 1148.

ment of organization carried many into the order who were influenced by purely selfish motives,' and who expected to grow suddenly rich without effort, and some of tjiis class have expressed dissatisfaction and dropped from the rolls of their respective Granges. But the order is in a much better condition now than ever before, a majority of the most enterprisiug farmers of each community having become identified with it. Eespectiully, A. E. KELLER.

St. Joseph S Benevolent Association, Catholic Brotherhood

This association was organized in Lancaster, on the 2d day of July, 1861. The following quotations will show the objects and aims of the society :

" Any member of St. Mary's congregation who has attained to the age of eighteen years, and has not passed his fifty-fifth year, may become a member of this association."

" No active member of the old St. Mary's Society shall be excluded from the privilege of becoming a member of St. Joseph's Benevolent Association on account of his age."

" No person who is not of good Catholic life and standing can become a member of this association. This last condition, viz. : honorable Christian character, shall always remain essential to membership."

" The hour of commencing the stated meetings shall be about 4 o'clock p. m., or immediately after vespers on the first Sunday of each month."

The initiation fees for membership of this society are graduated as follows : From the age of eighteen to twentyfive years, $2.00; from twenty-five to forty years, 13.00; from forty to fifty-five years, $5.00. Monthly dues of twenty-five cents are paid by each member at the stated meetings. Sick members of six months standing, receive two dollars a week ; and those who have been members one year and upwards, receive three dollars a week; provided in all cases, that the sickness has not been induced by voluntary self-abuse. The society tenders twenty-five dollars for funeral expenses upon the death of members ; but this is contingent upon one hundred and fifty dollars being in the treasury at the time of such death.

Weigle, Recording Secretary; Charles P. Puchs, Corresponding Secretary; Leo. Noles, Messenger; Thomas 0. Connor, Banner Bearer ; Joseph Kurtzman, Jolm Bletzacker and Charles Baumeister, Committee for the Sick.

Constituent Members Knights Of St. George, Catholic

The order of the Knights of St. George was instituted in Lancaster on the 2d day of November, 1875. The objects of this association are : Beneficial, charitable, benevolent and the cultivation of good Christian character. Eligibility for membership in this order consists, firstly : The ap^jlicant must be between the ages of eighteen and forty years ; and secondly : He must be of "good Catholic life and standing." The initiation fee is three dollars, and the monthly dues fifty cents. Worthy sick members receive five dollars a week upon the certificate of a physician. The maintenance of "Honorable Christian character shall always remain essential to membership." A funeral benefit of $25.00 is allowed in the case of the death of a member ; but all the benefits to which members are entitled, may, at their option or that of their friends in the event of death, be donated back to the association. But benefits are only allowed to members in good standing. In the case of sickness, brought on by drunkenness, no benefits are allowed.

First Court Of Quarter Sessions

The first Court of quarter sessions for Fairfield County, and previous to the establishment of the Court of Common Pleas, in May, 1803, was held on the 12th of January, 1801. Emanusl Carpenter, Sr., was the presiding Justice, and Nathaniel Wilson, sr., David Vanmetgr and Samuel Carpenter were his associates. The session was held in a log school-house. A Sheriff by the name of Samuel Kratzer, was appointed by the bench.

A Jurj' was also appointed, which was called a Jury of Inquest. The following are the names of the Jurymen : Jas. Converse, Foreman ; Abramam Wather, Jeremiah Conaway, Arthur Teal, Conrad Fetters, Robert McMurtry, L^am'l. Coats, Abraham Funk, Thomas Cisfina, Amassa Delanoe, John Mc- Mullen, Joseph McMullen, Edward Teal, David Reese and Barnabas Golden. There were no indictments found, and the Jury was discharged.

Though appearing little in history, the town of Lancaster seems sometimes to have been called the town of Fairfield, for at the quarter sessions just referred to, there was an order issued for the survey of a road " from the town of Fairfield to the head of the muddy prairie;'' and the survey was made by Hugh Boyle.

The first mortgage of which any record appears, was made by John Cleves Symmes to Benjamin Murphy, for the purchase of one hundred acres of land, for which payment was to be made in six years with six per cent, interest. The instrument bears date of August 19th, 1801, and the sum contracted to be paid was two thousand dollars. These figures are probably an error, as twenty dollars per acre for wild lands at that early day was hardly likely.

In October, 1802, and on the 12th day, two members of the Constitutional Convention for Ohio were chosen by popular election. This was the first election for the county. Emanuel Carpenter, Sr., and Henry Abrams were elected, the former

The members of the convention convened at Chillicothe on the first day of November following, and organized by the appointment of Edward Tiffin as President, and Thomas Scott as Secretary. This convention held an adjourned session on the 29th of the same month, when they completed their work ; and the constitution was submitted directly to Congress, and accepted, without being placed before the people of the State for their approval.

Statistical

Statistics show that there were in Fairfield County, in the year 1870, 2,318 farms, aggregating 232,016 acres of cultivated land; and that there were within its limits the total of 316,420 acres, including all outlying and timbered lands.

Fairfield In The War Of 1812

In the mouth of April, 1812, a company of infantry volunteers, under the command of tapt. George Sanderson, was raised, to operate on' the northern border against the British, in what is known as the war of 1812. This company formed a part of Colonel Lewis Cass's Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, which was betrayed into the bands of the British General Brock, as was believed, by the cowardice of General Hull, on the 12th of August following, in front of Detroit. They were paroled not to fight against the British until exchanged, which exchange took place in Maj', 1814. It is said, however, that some of the men went and joined Harrison's campaign to the Maumee and Thames in 1813, and continued until peace was concluded.

Inuu old blank book purchased at the sale of the venerable John Leist, west of Amanda, and furnished me by one of the sons of the late William Graham, of this county, I find the records in part of a third company that left Lancaster for the North in 1812. This company was commanded by Jesse D.

Courtright; John Leist, First Lieutenant. The record, or journal, was kept by one Samuel W. Taylor, probably an Orderly. The journal opens thus :

"General Harrison arrived at the Rapids, and started next day with a thousand men, commanded by General Perkins, to reinforce Geriteral Winchester. They did not get far when they met some of Winchester's men, who told them that Winchester's army was all taken prisoners or killed."

Refugee Lands

We notice very briefly the Refugee Tract, so-called. It passes through the northern part of this county, from east ta west. Its width is two miles, and length eighteen miles. The origin of this reservation was as follows : There were citizens of Canada who, during the revolutionary war, gave their sympathies and aid to the American colonies. Congress appropriated this strip of land, of eighteen miles east and west, and two miles north and south, for their use, hence " Refugee Lands. " After it had been taken up to the extent of the claimants who presented themselves, the unclaimed portion was sectioned and sold as other Congress Lands.

Reform Farm

The first efiforts to obtain appropriations and encouragement for the establishment in Ohio of a Reform School for boys through the Legislature in 1857 and 1858, did not issue in any definite or efiective result.

Charles Reemelin, of Cincinnati, having returned from a visit to Europe, reported his investigations of several institutions of the kind in that country. His suggestions gave impetus to the idea, and in 1857 the first log-structures were built on the site selected. To Mr. Remelin belongs much of the credit of the inception and subsequent development of the Ohio Reform Farm.

the beginning of the " State Farm," as it is familiarly called. In 1876 the estimate of all t»he buildings and the farm was $200,000. Up to that time the total number of boys, who had passed through the institution, as shown by the official report of the Superintendent, was 2,019. The cost of each boy to the State, not including buildings and improvements, for the year of 1875 is put down at $118.53. Geo. E. Howe has been the Acting Commissioner from the first, and still holds the position. In his report in general he says, that '' eighty per cent, of the boys leaving have turned out well. "

The farm is said to contain eleven hundred acres. The buildings are mostly of brick, and of a fine syle of architecture, and occupy about twenty acres of ground. The land lies some five or six hundred feet above the level of the Hocking Valley, three or four miles to the east. The surrounding hills are delightfully romantic with pine and chestnut groves. Besides farming on a small scale, and fruit growing, the boys are em. ployed in the manufacture of cane-seats, brushes of. a great variety, shoes, brooms and other wares. There is a chapel where religious instructions are given every Sunday. There are also a number of schools in operation the year round, where all the boys receive competent education in the English language.

There are no lock-ups. Generally the boys are under the care of a select class of young men, denominated "Elder Brothers," and held to close and rigid discipline. Their time is diversified with school, labor and recreation. Many of them show themselves to be entirely trustworthy, and are allowed to go and come, and even to transact responsible business. Mrs. Howe, wife of the Acting Commissioner, is Matron, and.it is said by those best acquainted with the institution, that her influence and motherly supervision has had a marked effect for good on the boys.

The farm is situated six miles from Lancaster, in a southwest direction. A good turnpike road leads from the foot of Broadway directly to the farm, most of the distance through delightful pine groves, which, in summer, make the air redo lent with resinous exhalations. The farm is at all times accessible to visitors, who are politely shown round. On Sun-

The term of detention of those sent there is not fixed, and their discharge, when thought prepared to leave, is left to the Acting Commissioner.

Fairfield Representatives In Congress

At an early day (1819-1821), and (1821-1829), Philemon Beecher was in the Lower House of Congress. Later, citizens of the county who ha^e been elected in the various districts to which it has belonged, have been : William W. Irvin, John Chaney, William Medill, Charles D. Martin, Thos. 0. Edwards, Edson B. Olds and Philadelphus Van Trump. Senate and member of the Cabinet : Thomas Ewing.

Following will be found a brief history of the townships and villages, which is as full and specific as the plan of this work will permit, and it is hoped will be found satisfactory. It is perhaps possible that, in collating such a work, non-important errors may creep in. Such, if any shall be found, will be excused, if the general tenor of the history shall be approved, for, as before said, much has to be taken from tradition, and the recollections of living witnesses vary more or less.

Clear Creek Township is situated in the south-west corner of the county. Its name was suggested from " Clear Creek," a small stream running through it. Its school district system is well arranged. There are nine school-houses, located respectively at the cornerings of the sections.

It contains the villages of Oakland and Stoutsville, the former laid out by Charles Sager, and is twelve miles from Lancaster, on the Chillicothe pike ; the latter by Benjamin Stout, in 1854, and is about sixteen miles west, or south-west of Lancaster. Clear Creek formerly extended over parts of the Townships of Madison and Amanda.

We note among the early settlers of Clear Creek, John Leist, who cauie there in 1807. He was born in 1784, and was a member of the Legislature from 1813 to 1820. Mr. Leist served in the war of 1812, and was under Harrison at Fort Meigs and Detroit. He died several years since, at a very advanced age. Mr. Dillsaver is said to have built the first horse-mill in the township. Michael Nye was also an early settler. Charles Friend came in 1800, and built the first water-mill on Clear Creek. Among the first teaChers were Apple Young and John Young. Jacob Leist was an early Lutheran preacher there. It is believe'd the Lutherans built the first meeting-house, which was a log-cabin. It was situated near the somewhat historic place, known as " Dutch Hollow. " The last census gave Clear Creek a population of 1,743.

Amanda lies immediately north of Clear Creek. It is commonly understood that the name was given by William Hamilton, who was the first County Surveyor of Fairfield. It contains the villages of Amanda and Royalton. Amanda is eight miles west of Lancaster, on the Cincinnati Railroad. Its first proprietor was Samuel Kester, and its beginning was about 1830. Royalton is six or seven miles north of Amanda. It is a small village, and was known as Toby Town at the beginning of the settlements.

Frederick Leathers is spoken of as the first settler. He kept a tavern on the old Chillicothe road. Isaac Griffith succeeded him as landlord, and remained there until 1834, soon after which the house was burned. Other early settlers were : Disinger, William Ward, Mr. Norris, Mr. Denison, William Hamilton, Thomas Barr, John Christy and Mr. Morris, who acquired notoriety as a ring-fighter at public gatherings. A school-teacher, by the name of Solomon Grover, is spoken of ag having school in the upper story of his house, in 1817. A Presbyterian Church was organized in the village, in 1838, by Rev. Dr. Hogue, of Columbus. The first minister was William Jones. The first Sabbath-School in Amanda was inaugurated in 1860, by the Rev. Thorn.

Bloom was established in 1805. The following names have been furnished as first settlers: Abraham Courtright, Jesse D. Courtright, Zephemiah Drake, Christian Merchant, Peter Powel, Conrad Plainer, Michael Thrash, John Smaltz, Michael AUspaugh, Jacob Allspaugh, Levi Moore and Daniel Hoy. Bloom Township contains Lithopolis and Greencastle. Greencastle was first laid out, and .Jesse D. Courtright was its first proprietor. This was in 1810. In 1814, one Bougher laid out the town of Lithopolis. It is the largest village in the county, possibly. It has three churches and an academy. Lithopolis is fourteen, and Greencastle ten miles from Lancaster, both on the old Columbus road.

A quaint rule is spoken of as having been established in this township in its early history, viz. : No man was allowed to vote at their elections who could not produce a certificate that he had performed two days' work on the road, removing the stumps.

The first school-teacher in Bloom Township was Abraham Courtright. He taught there in 1805. The first church in the township was built by the German Presbj'terians, in the year 1807. It was near the old State road, and is said to be still standing.

The Trustees seem to have occupied much of the time of their meetings in attention to the reports and duties of Road Supervisors and Fence Viewers. The latter office, in Ohio, has long since been abolished. There was there, as in all townships at that early day, provided by law a special Board of Overseers of the Poor. Under the action of this Board, the Overseers sometimes sold the paupers to the lowest bidder for their maintenance.

Saw-mills were verj' numerous. Of those who run saw-mills at that early day, are mentioned Jacob Allspaugh, Sam'l Kistler. Judge Chaney, and a Mr. Barnett. The last two, Kistler and Chaney, are old citizens of Bloom Township, and referto the times in the past when goods were brought on horseback from Wheeling, Marietta and Zanesville, and of going to Zanes- ville for their grinding, a distance of over fifty miles. As late as 1822, it is said, there were no grinding facilities in Bloom besides one small raccoon-burr mill. Wheat was exchanged for salt, bushel for bushel, which was considered a great point gained by the farmers.

In 1822, there were two hewed log churches in the township, that were used jointly by the Lutherans and German Reforms. Rev. Steck was the pastor of the former, and Rev. Geo. Wise of the latter. Methodists, Presbyterians and others, at that time, held their meetings in private residences,

This township makes up the north-west corner of the county. It formerly contained the village of Winchester, but an act of the Legislature a few years since, struck off a tier of sections from its western border, which was attached to Franklin County, including Winchester.

The name " VioleL" is understood to have been derived from the luxuriance with which the flower bearing that name grew on some portions of its soil. Pickerington is situated in Violet. A man by the name of George Kirk first purchased the eighty-acre tract in which the village stands. Subsequently the land fell into the hands of Mr. Pickering, who laid out the town and christened it with his own name.

Of those who settled in Violet previous to the year 1806, are mentioned; H. Donaldson, A. Donaldson, Edward Rickets, Westenburger Hustand, Dr. Tolbert, A. Pickering and Mordecai Fishbaugh. Waterloo, on the canal, is within this township.

Violet; in churches, schools, and the general spirit and enterprise of the times, is not behind any township of the county. Settlements were first begun in the vicinity of where Pickerington now stands. Residences were located through the township with reference to springs and water streams, as well as the quality of the lands. Some of the first settlers came out in advance of their families and first built their cabins; in other instances the families came together, and took their chances in the forests. Dr. Tolbert was prob- ably the first physician in the township - at least among the first. He is still living at a very advanced age, and has been for many years a citizen of Jefierson.

Wolves are said to have been very abundant in Violet when it was first settled; but subsequently the premium paid for their scalps had much to do in thinning their ranks.

A large portion of the first settlers of this township were Swiss. The writer has been told that it was at their suggestion that the name " Liberty " was adopted. They came from a country where the liberties of citizens were very much restricted by Monarchical Government, and they seemed to desire that their freedom in the new country of their adoption should be perpetuated in history, hence "Liberty Township."

Baltimore and Basil, on the canal, are in Liberty, and are both places of considerable business. Baltimore is a considerable village, and is quite noted for the strength and respectability of its secret orders. It has the usual amount of church and school facilities. Before the trade of the county was distributed by its two railroads, Baltimore had a heavy grain trade, on account of the facilities of transportation afforded by the Ohio Canal, upon whose banks it stands.

Liberty lies between Violet and Walnut, in the northern tier. I have not the facilities for giving the exact dates of its organization, or that of either of its villages, or the names of their proprietors, but they are both old villages.

The roads through Liberty follow the cardinal points. The first tavern of the place was kept by Michael Allen. The first Methodist class-leader was a Mr. Kniseley Schumaker, who also established the first Sabbath-School. The surface was originally covered with dense forests of beach, sugar, and other forest trees, to clear away which, and make the soil available for farming, was a heavy and tedious work.

Greenfield was first settled in 1799, and was incorporated as a township in 1805. Isaac Meason, father of the late Venerable John Meason, was among the first to settle in the bounds of Greenfield. At the time of his coming there is said to have been not above half a dozen of families within the boundaries of the then very large township. Their names are : Captain Joseph Stewart, father of Levi Stewart, now of Lancaster, Wm. IStcFarland, Ralph Cherry, Jeremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks, Dorsey Meason and Samuel Randall. They expected to hold their lands under the "Tomahawk" Pre-Emption Claim, but they were subsequently sectioned and sold as Congress Lands at two dollars an acre, without any reference to " Squatter Sovereignty. "

Yankeytown and forks of Hocking were first settlements in Greenfield. The site of the former is now known as the Claypool neighborhood, and the latter as the Rock Mills.

The name of Henry Abrams, father-in-law of the late General George Sanderson, is also prominent among the first settlers of Greenfield, he having arrived in 1800, settling first, I believe, on what is at present known as the Sanderson farm.

The first election for the township was held at Yankeetown in the fall of 1805. The first tax-collector in Greenfield was Colonel Crooks, who was subsequently SheriS" of the county. Emanuel Carpenter is also spoken of as being at that time a citizen of Greenfield. His surviving friends, however, do not remember that he ever lived anywhere but down Hocking.

[A general remark is here proper. At the early times, of w^hich we write, the taxes of Ohio were collected by special collectors. The manner was as follows : A house in the township was designated, and a day named ; at that house, on the specified day, the collector remained all day to receive the taxes, it being the duty of the tax-payers to come there and take up their receipts].

Walter McFarland, John Meason and Gideon Martin, old and prominent citizens of Greenfield, deceased during the last year, aged respectively above eighty years.

Joseph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith, New Englanders, built a grist and saw-mill combined at the forks of Hocking in 1800. The place is familiarly known at present as the Rock Mill. It is on the old Columbus road, seven miles from Lancaster. These men are said to have sold goods at their mill which were brought on pack-horses from Detroit. They also sold whisky, charging one dollar a quart for it. The Indians often bought it and took a big drunk, always leaving one or two of their number sober to restrain the drinkers, a custom not observed by their more civilized brethern of the " palefaced " race.

A wrestling tournament between Isaac Meason and a stout Indian is spoken of, in which Mr. Meason was successful in three straight falls, when the Indian, in a very surprised manner, gave up the contest.

It is related that some of the first emigrants erected tents, which they roofed with bark, inhabiting them until they could find the time to put up cabins. Two or three families are said, in some instances, to have jointly occupied one cabin of small dimensions.

The second or third j'ears, after the settlements began, were characterized bj' a great- deal of sickness. A form of disease prevailed that was thought to be yellow fever. Of those who died with it are mentioned: .leremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks and Benjamin Edgar. For their interment no better coffins could be provided than rude structures of puncheons.

The first Methodist preacher who came into the township, it is believed, was one John Williams. A Scotch Covenanter, by the name of Wallace, made ah effort in 1816 to establish a church, but failed. In 1813 the Lutherans built the first church of the township. A Union Church was built in 1840, which afterwards fell into the hands of the Methodists. It is said to be still in use. It was called Pleasant Summit. The first circuit-riders who preached in it were Hand and Milligan.

There are three villages in Greenfield. Carroll was laid out by William Tong, at the junction of the Ohio and Hocking Valley canals. Havensport, a small village on the canal, was laid oiTby Isaac Havens; and Dumontsville, four miles northwest of Lancaster, by Mr. Dumont, from France.

Greenfield ranks among the wealthiest townships of the county. It is situated north-west from Lancaster. The first man who taught school in Greenfield is believed to have been a Mr. May. The town.ship at this time contains seven churches.

An object in this township that merits commemoration, is Greenfield Academy on the Carroll Pike. It was erected in 1830 by Jacob Claypool, and was at first used for school and church purposes, and afterwards converted into an academy.

In this township Lancaster is situated, near its northern and eastern borders. Its name derives from the Hockhocking river, which flows past its western and southern limits. The history of Lancaster is a large part of the history of Hocking ' Township. And the history of the first settlements of the county would, in a general way, be the history of all frontier life seventy years ago.

Within this township^ and in near proximity to Lancaster, are inexhaustible ledges of the fines sand-stone in the world - sufficient in quantity to build a hundred cities. It will be remembered this township was the theatre of the Wyandot and Delaware Indians when the valley was first penetrated by the white race. But now not the slightest trace of that swarthy race which once made these hills echo with their wild and discordant shouts, remains ; not a mark to show they were ever here. And the pale faces are gone too, and their foot-prints are nearly faded out; that is, the first comers. Their forms have dissolved away, and their voices are all hushed forevermore.

The first settlers of Hocking township have been mentioned elsewhere, when speaking of the first settlers of Fairfield county, and it is needless to recapitulate.

Outside of Lancaster, there is but one village in the township - the village of Hamburg; five miles to the south-west. It is a place of a few families, and has a little trade.

Hocking, perhaps more than any township in the countj-, presents more mementoes of the frontier age in the form of remnants of old log-cabins and the like. At present it is the chief grape-growing township of the county. The hills for a few miles south are, to a large extent, covered with the vine in healthy conditions of culture. The State Farm is in Hocking township.

oldest inhabitants, that' some of the arts of the red man in extracting healing virtues from wild plants have been diffused and are not lost.

Madison Township was honored with the name of one of the illustrious Presidents of the United States, James Madison. It lies immediately east of Clear Creek, on the southern border of the county. It was established with pretty near its present boundaries, in the year 1812. Previous to that time it formed, I believe, a part of Clear Creek Township. The. first election for the township after its independent organization was held at the house of Mr. Valentine Wolf.

Still-houses were numerous there at an early day, and their influences were manifested at public gatherings, such as logrollings, corn-huskings, house-raisings and sales. There is no village of any consequence in Madison.

We mention a few of the first men, who, with their families, settled on her soil : Ewel Shseffer, Mathew Young, Robert Young, Adam Deffenbaugh. Names of other first settlers have not transpired to me.

The first saw-mill in the township was built by Isaac Shjeffer. A man by the name of Aker is referred to as having been the first to carry on the blacksmith business, and the first and only tavern for the time was kept by John Sweyer. In the j'ear 1835, there were five mills in the township, owned respectively by Shaeffer, Deffenbaugh, Welsheimer, Griffith and Guy. The Methodists and Lutherans have churches in Madison. There are two hamlets in the township, known as Clearport and Mechanicsburg. Rev. Mr. Steck, Lutheran, preached there as early as 1816. John Wiley, an extensive stock dealer, settled in Madison in 1828. In 1854, a post-office was established at Clearport, commonly called Abbot's store. The Abbot family have kept the office from its beginning till now.

It is said that Berne Township was named in honor of the Canton of Berne, in Switzerland, by Samuel Carpenter, at the time of its organization, a citizen. There are two post-offices in the township - Sugar Grove, eight miles below Lancaster,

Some of the first settlers were four brothers, Reams, Henry Hansel, James Harrod, William Brandon, George Beery, David Carpenter, and others.

George Reams built the first grist-mill. Daniel Reams built the first saw-mill. The township is at present credited with ten churches and prosperous Sunday-schools.

John A. Collins is remembered as an early 'Squire. Mr. Collins was favorably known, and lived to a ripe old age. He was Justice of the Peace fully thirty years.

Judge Joseph Stukey built a grist-mill on Rush Creek, just at the foot of what is now Sugar Grove, at a very early period. Mr. Stukey will be remembered as having been one of the Associate Common Pleas Judges for Fairfield County. He served a number of years, embracing the year 1840. He died several years ago.

Pleasant is situated north of Berne. The origin of the name has not, so far as I know, been handed down. There is a creek running through the township, known as Pleasant Run ; but which was named iirst, or whether one took its name from the other, is not now known. But the township might very properly have been called Pleasant Township, from the extent and quantity of its pleasant and fertile land.

Pleasant Township was early .settled. One of the first settlements of the county was in Pleasant; and the first grave of a white man was made on the bank of Fetter's Run, as early, I believe, as 1798. Two or three men pitched their tent near the present crossing of Fetter's Run, on the old Zanesville road, a little more than one mile north-east of the present site of Lancaster. Within less than a month after their arrival, one of their number, Wm. Green, sickened and died.

There was no possibility of procuring a coffin, and one was improvised by peeling the bark from a kickory tree (it being in the month of May, when the sap was up), and in it he was buried near where the bridge over the run now stands, though I believe no one pretends to point out the spot.

Pleasantville is the village of the township, and is nearly on the north line. It has a popular and flourishing seminary. Pleasant was early platted and inhabited. Nearly its entire area is arable, and its farmers are mostly thrifty and in good circumstances. The following may be mentioned as of the first settlers : The Hoovers, Ashbrooks, Trimbles, Beerys, Harmons, Hites, Hampsons, Cupps, Ruffners, Kellers, Ewings, Duncans, Feemens, Foglesongs, Radabaughs, Maclins, Arnolds, Kemerers, John Baldwin, and others.

Walnut is immediately north of Pleasant. New Salem and Millersport are the villages of Walnut Township ; the former is a place of some trade, and two churches; it was first settled, and is situated on the eastern border of the township. Millersport is situated at the southern point of the "Big Reservoir," and just where the Ohio Canal enters it. Its thrift and importance is owing, in a large degree, to the fisheries of that artificial lake, which is of several miles in extent in its greatest diameter. The reservoir was formed to supply water to the canal in dry seasons; it is in the northern part of the township. Millersport has the usual churches and schools. Its commerce has been considerable, on account of the shipment of grain and other produce.

In 1806, there were not exceeding a dozen families within its borders, and they were distributed in different parts of its territory. Some of these have reached me. Of them I record, William Murphy, Asa Murphy, the Cravvfords, Hendrixes, Watsons, and David Lyly.

A man named Debold is mentioned as having preached the first sermon (of the township, I suppose), at the cabin of William Hauer. He was a Baptist, I believe.

At that early day. Walnut, in common with all the townships and other parts of the frontier country, was without roads. Old citizens speak of a trace having been blazed from the Scioto, at a point probably where Columbus now is, through to Zanesville, pushing through Walnut, which subsequently was opened into a wagon road.

[A brief explanation of what is meant by a blazed road is necessary, because not one in fifty of the present inhabitants of Fairfield County have any knowledge of them. They were a necessity of the pioneer age. They were called at first, "bridle-paths" and "foot-paths." The manner of opening them was in this wise : One or more men set out with axes from one point to another, say, from one cabin to another, and taking trees in range, and from twenty to forty feet apart, chopped or hewed the bark from the two sides facing in the two directions, thus making a "blaze" that caught the eye readily by the contrast bdtween the bark and the bare wood. Then these blazed trees were followed in both directions, on foot and on horseback, until by use a beaten track rendered the blazes unnecessary. I have known guns to be fired and horns blown, at the outcome, or at points along the way, to guide the blazers].

It is related that William Hauer built the first hewed loghouse in Walnut, in 1807, and made in it a puncheon floor, leveling them ofi" with a foot-adz.

The first hand-mill used in the township is credited to Mr. Crawford. The first crop of wheat that promised well was greatly damaged by squirrels. A Mr. Holmes has the credit of building the first brick house within the township - probably about the year 1(S12.

It is believed that this township was so named because of the richness and fertility of its soil. Richland was cut down in 1817 by striking ofi" two tiers of sections from its eastern side to be attached to Perry County, thus reducing its dimensions to four sections wide by six in length, which is its present area.

East and West Rushville, one mile apart, and on opposite sides of Rush Creek, are situated in the southern third of the township. Both these villages have churches and Sabbath- Schools, and their citizens are characterized for temperance and good morals. It is understood that a man by the name of Teal first owned the land upon which West town is built, and a Mr. Turner that where the East town is.

Among the first settlers, the names below are presented : William Wiseman, Theo. Turner, Stephenson and Ijams' families. Judge William McClung was also an early-comer. Judge McClung was a prominent public man, and died in West Rushville in 1876, at a very advanced age. Abram Geil, James Rowland, and Jesse Rowles, are likewise mentioned as among the pioneers in the township. Mordecai Stevens was an early settler and leading farmer; he lived and died on the land first entered by his father. William CouLson is remembered as a leading man of Rushville, both in trade and as an active and devoted Methodist. Patrick Owens is said to have sold the first goods in Richland; and Moses Plummerthe proprietor of the first mills on Rush Creek, between the two villages, in the year 1802, or about that time.

These villages, as well as Richland Township, shared with all other parts of the county in the early organization of religious societies and churches ; but their first meetings were held in the log-cabins of the settlers. Rev. Clymer and James Quinn were pioneer Methodist preachers in Richland.

Dr. Nathaniel Waite was a physician in West Bushville at an early day ; and Dr. Ide of 'East Rushville. The first Postmaster's name is given as Marquette. One Harper, is named as the first blacksmith.

In former years vast quantities of tobacco were packed and shipped from both the Rushvilles. It was a staple product of that end of the county. The leading men in the tobacco trade were the Ijams', Coulson and Vansant.

township in 1799. It is a six-section township ; Bremen is its village, and is situated about the middle of the township. Rush Creek and Raccoon are the principal streams that passthrough it. The Circinnati and Zanesville Railroad cuts it in the center. Nearly all the surface of Rush Creek is arable and fertile. The name derives from Rush Creek, its principal stream.

The survey of this township, and of that part of the county, was made by Elenathan Schofield, an early citizen of Lancas ter, soon after the first settlement of the county.

The names of the men who first entered land within the bounds of Rush Creek Township, mostly along Rush Creek here follow : John Laremore, William Thompson, John Carr, David Martin, William Martin, John Cone, James Young, Charles McClung, Henry Sellers, John Patton, William Mc- Ginnis, John Willis, Abraham Geil, and others.

In 1810, Samuel Hammel built the first mill, I believe, on Rush Creek ; and a little later Mr. Leib built a saw and grist mill, also on Rush Creek ; the same, I believe, is at present owned by the Shaw family. Casper Huffbrd also built a grist mill on Raccoon very early in the settlements ; this milt, I am told, has entirely disappeared.

The settlmements began along the creeks in 1800, but the eastern portion of the township was settled latter. Many of the first-comers settled down on the squatter plan, and afterwards, when the land came into market, bought tlfeir places at two dollars an acre. It is said that no competition was gone into in the purchases, which was the result of a mutual understanding among the squatters.

One of the Larimores was the first Justice of the Peace, and Charles McClung was elected to the same office in 1804. Wm. McClung, a brother, I believe, of Charles, was a prominent citizen of the township. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under General Sanderson, who was then Captain of a company from Fairfield County. Subsequently he repre-ented the county in the State Legislature, and was Associate Judge of the Common Pleas in 1840 and 1841, or about that time.

Bremen was laid out by George Beery in very early times, and was so named, I have been told, in honor of the city of Bremen, Germany. There is likewise a small village a little south of Bremen, called Geneva. The first woman to settle in the township is said to have been Phebe Larimore, who in 1801 married William Martin. Robert Larimore is reported as the first man to die in the township.

I could not descend into more particularity in separate township histories, without swelling my work far beyond the plan contemplated. Perhaps enough has already been recorded to meet the demands of a county history. I would have been glad to have said more about the original settlers of the first ten years of Fairfield County, did the possibilities exist for acquiring correct information; but the possibilities do not exist. As before said, the pioneers have all passed away, and with them much of their history. We are, therefore, obliged to be content to gather up what little the records give, which, together with tradition, as far as it will serve, it is hoped, will make a satisfactory reflection of the times from 1798 to 1876, of Fairfield County, Ohio.

In closing up the separate history of the townships, I must again beg readers to excuse little errors, should any be detected, since no pains have been spared to arrive at accuracy from all the sources of information available. It is believed the main points of history are all correct; and should small errors be Cound, they will be referable to differences of recollection.

County Fair

The Fairfield County Agricultural Society was first organized in 1851, and held its first Fair in October of that year. John Reeber was President, and John S. Brazee, Secretary. The first Fair-ground was on the west side of Columbus street, on lands belonging to John Reeber, lying a little south of the Reservoir. The Fair was a flattering success; but, owing to the disordered and lost state of the papers, it has been impossible to obtain statistics of that, or several of the subsequent years. Never- theless, the society has held its annual Fairs, viz. : in the month of October, for twenty-five consecutive years, and has grown into one of the best County Fairs in the State.

In 1852, Mr. Reeber, as President, was vested by the Board with power to purchase permanent Fair-grounds, which he accomplished by buying a part of the farm of Thos. Wright, deceased, at the foot of Mount Pleasant, on its western side. The purchase- was made from John A. Fetters, Administrator of Thos. Wright, and on very advantageous terms to the society. The first purchase was twelve or fifteen acres, perhaps less. Subsequently the Widner place was purchased and added to the west of the grounds, and two or three acres from Mrs. Van Pearce on the north, thus making the aggregate of twentytwo acres, which is the piesent Fair-ground.

The trotting park, amphitheaters, exibition halls, music stand and all other appointments of the grounds are of the best, and have been engineered and executed by skillful and competent men. From the first the citizens of Fairfield County have taken the matter of their Fair in hand with a pride and zeal, nowhere surpassed; nor has the interest at any time seemed to flag in the least.

During the last six or seven years a systematic course of book-keeping has been kept up, from the pages of which some extracts are here introduced. I deem it right, however, first to say, that Mr. Reeber, first President, served in that capacity for several years, then was out, and subsequently again elected, I would be glad to introduce the names of the various men who, for the first sixteen or eighteen years, filled the principal offices of the society, but for the want of records at hand I am unable to do so.

The first financial showing on the available records is the total cost of the erection of the two amphitheaters, in the year 1873, which was $2,115.57.

The receipts of the Society for the year 1876, from all sources, as furnished by the Treasurer, J. S. Wolf, was $6,001.31, and the expenditures for all purposes, for the same year, $5,888.42, leaving a balance in favor of treasury of $112.89.

General Sanderson'S Notes

After nearly a full year's research, I have at last, and just when my manuscript was nearlj' completed, succeeded in unearthing a copy of General George Sanderson's pamphlet, pub

The pamphlet embodies the substance of a lecture delivered by the General in 1844, before the Lancaster Literary Society, but with extended additions. Extracts of his lecture have already appeared in this work ; but, so indispensable to a complete history of Fairfield County are the notes of George Sanderson, that I proceed here to give copious quotations from the pages of the book just come to hand. I give them literally and full, although much of their matter is a repetition, in part, of the same points already incorporated in this work.

General Sanderson, as has previously been said, was identified with Fairfield County from its very beginning until his death in 1871.' He was, moreover, a man of careful observation and wonderful memory, and during a large portion of his life a public man in offices of trust and responsibility. I proceed with the extracts:

" The present generation can form no just conception of the wild and wilderness appearance of the country in which we now dwell, previous to its settlement by the white people ; it was, in short, a country

" The lands watered by the sources of the Hockhocking river, and now comprehended within the present limits of the County of Fairfield, were, when discovered by some of the early settlers of Marietta, owned and occupied by the Wyandot tribe of Indians, and were highly prized by the occupants as a valuable hunting-ground, being filled by almost all kinds of game and animals of fur. The principal town of the nation stood along the margin of the prairie, between the mouth of Broad street and Thomas Swing's canal-basin, and extending back as far as the base of the hill south of the Methodist Church. It is said that the town contained in 1790 about one hundred wigwams, and five hundred souls. It was called Tarhe, or in English, Cranetown, and derived its name from that of the principal chief of the tribe. The Chiefs wigwam in Tarhe stood upon the bank of the prairie, near where the fourth lock is built on the Hocking Canal, and near where a beautiful spring of water flows into the Hocking river. The wigwams were built of the bark of trees set on poles, in the form of a sugar-camp, with one square open, fronting a fire, and about the hight of a man. The Wyandot tribe at that day numbered about five hundred warriors, and were a ferocious and savage people. They made frequent attacks on the white settlements along the Ohio river, killing, scalping and capturing the settlers without regard to age, sex or condition. War parties on various occasions attacked flat-boats descending the river, containing emigrants from the Middle States seeking new homes in Kentucky, by which, in many instances, whole families became victims to the tomahawk and scalping-knife. * * * * The Crane Chief had a white wife in his old age. She was Indian in every sense of the word, except her fair skin and red hair. Her history, a^ far as I have been able to learn it, is this : Tarhe, in one of his predatory excursions along the Ohio river, on the east side, near Wheeling, had taken her prisoner and brought her to his town on the Hocking river. She was then about eight years old ; and, never having been reclaimed by her relatives or friends, remained with the nation, and afterwards became the wife of her captor. *****

"On the 17th of May, 1796, Congress, with a view no doubt to the early settlement of their acquired possessions by the treaty of Greenville in 1795, passed an act granting to Ebenezer Zane three tracts of land, not exceeding one mile square each, in consideration that he would open a road on the most eligible route, between Wheeling, Virginia, and Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky. Zane performed his part of the contract the same year, and selected one of his tracts on the Hocking, where Lancaster now stands. The road was opened by only blazing the trees and cutting out the underbrush, which gave it more the appearance of an Indian path, or trace, than a road, and from that circumstance it took the name of ' Zane's Trace ' - a name it bore for many years after the settlement of the county. * * It crossed the

Hocking at a ripple, or ford, about three hundred yards below the turnpike-road, west of the present town of Lancaster, and was called the ' Crossing of Hocking. ' This was the first attempt to open a public highway through the interior of the North-western Territory.

from both directions wishing to better their conditions in life by emigrating and settling in the ' back woods,' then so-called, visited the Hockhocking for that purpose, and finding the country surpassingly fertile - abounding in springs of purest water, determined to make it their new home.

" In April, 1798, Captain Joseph Hunter, a bold and enterprising man, with his family, emigrated from Kentucky and settled on Zane's trace, upon the bank of the prairie west of the crossings, and about one hundred and fifty yards northwest of the present turnpike-road, and was called ' Hunter's Settlement.' Capt. Hunter cleared off the underbrush, felled the forest trees, and erected a cabin, at a time when he had not a neighbor nearer than the Muskingum and Scioto rivers. This was the commencement of the first settlement in the upper Hockhocking Valley; and Captain Hunter is regarded as the founder of the flourishing and populous County of Pairfield, He lived to see the county densely settled and in a high state of improvement, and paid the debt of nature about 20 years ago. His aged companion, Mrs. Dorotha Hunter, yet lives, (in 1851) enjoying the kind and affectionate attentions of her family, and the respect and esteem of her acquaintances. She was the first white woman that settled in the valley, and shared with her late husband all the toils, sufferings, hardships and privations incident to the formation of the new settlement, without a murmur or word of complaint. During the spring of the same year, Nathaniel Wilson, the elder ; John Green, Allen Green, John and Joseph McMuUen, Robert Cooper, Isaac Shaeffer, and a few others, reached the valley, erected cabins, and put in crops.

" In 1799, Levi Moore, Abraham Bright, Major Bright, Ishmael Due and Jesse Spurgeon, emigrated with their families from Allegheny County, Maryland, and settled near where Lancaster now stands. Part of the company came through by land from Pittsburg, with their horses, and part of their horses and goods descended the Ohio in boats to the mouth of the Hockhocking, and thence ascended the latter in canoes to the mouth of Rush Creek. The trace from Wheeling to the Hockhocking at that time was, in almost its entire length, a wilderness, and did not admit the passage of wagons. The land party of men, on reaching the valley, went down to the mouth of the Hockhocking and assisted the water party up. They

" Levi Moore settled with Jesse Spurgeon three miles below Lancaster. The Brights and Due also settled in the neighborhood. These pioneers are all dead except Mr. Moore. He resides near Winchester, in Fairfield County, blessed with all this world can give to make him happy. * * *

"James Converse, in 1799, brought from Marietta, by way of the Ohio and Hocking rivers, nearly a canoe load of merchandise, and opened a very large and general assortment of dry goods and groceries, in a cabin at Hunter's Settlement. He displayed his specimen goods on the corners of the cabin, and upon the stumps and limbs of trees before his door, dispensing with the use of flags altogether. He of course was a modest man.

" The General Government directed the public domain to be surveyed. The lands were laid ofif in sections of one hundred and forty acres, and then subdivided into half and quarter sections. Elenathan Schofield, our late fellow-citizen, was engaged in the service.

'' In 1800, 1801 and 18C^, emigrants continued to arrive, ^nd set lements were formed in the most distant parts of the county. Cabin-raisings, clearings and log-rollings, were in progress in almost every direction. The settlers lent each other aid in their raisings and other heavy operations requiring many hands. By thus mutually assisting one another, they were all enabled in due season to provide themselves cabins to live in. The log-cabin was of paramount consideration. After the spot was selected, logs cut and hauled, and clapboards made, the erection was but the work of a day. They were of rude construction, but not always uncomfortable."

Here the General introduced an extract from Kendall's Life of Jackson, descriptive of log-cabins, that pleases me so well, because so perfect a picture of those primative buildings throughout the entire pioneer age of the West and North-west, that I most gladly give it place. All who lived in the West fifty years ago will recognize every feature of the picture : possessed by the first settlers were axes, hatchets, knives, and a few augurs. They had neither saw-mills nor carpenters, bricks nor masons, nails nor glass. Logs notched and laid across each other at the ends, making a pen in the form of a square or parallelogram, answered the purpose of timber and weather-boarding, and constituted the body of the structure. The gable-ends were constructed of the same materials, kept in place by large poles, extending lengthwfse the entire length of the building. Up and down upon these poles, lanping over like shingles, were laid clap boards, split out of oak logs, and resembling staves, which were kept in their place by other poles laid upon them, and confined at the gable-ends. Roofs of this sort, well constructed, were a sufficient protection from ordinary storms. The crevices between the logs, if large, wer? filled with small stones^ chips, or bits of wood, called chinking, and plastered over with mud inside and out ; if small, the plastering alone was sufficient. The earth was often the only floor; but in general, floors were made of puncheons, or slabs split from logs hewed smooth, and resting on poles. The lofts, or attics, sometimes had puncheon floors, and rough ladders were the stairways. Chimneys were built of logs rudely dovetailed from the outside into those constituting one end of the structure, which were cut to make room for a fire-place, terminating at the top with split sticks, notched into each other, the whole thickly plastered with mud on the inside. Stones laid in mud formed the jambs and back walls of the fire-places. The doors, made of clap boards, or thin puncheons pinned to cross-pieces, were hung on wooden hinges, and had wooden latches. Generally they had no windows ; the open door and broad chimney admitted the light by day, anS a rousing fire or grease-lamp was the resource by night. In the whole building there was neither metal nor glass. Sometimes a part of a log was cut out for a window, with a piece of sliding puncheon to close it. As soon as the mechanic and merchant appeard, sashes of two or four lights might be seen set into gaps cut through the logs. Contemporaneously old barrels began to constitute the tops of chimneys, and joice and plank sawed by hand took the place of puncheons.

"The furniture of the primitive log-cabin was but little superior to the structure. They contained little beyond puncheon benches, and stools or blocks of wood for tables and chairs ; a small kettle or two answering the manifold purposes of buckets, boilers and ovens, and a scanty supply of plates, knives, forks and spoons, all of which had been packed on horse back through the wilderness. Bedsteads they had none ; and their bedding was a blanket or two, with bear and deerskins in abundance. "

"The early settlers were a hardy and industrious people, and for frankness and hospitality have not been surpassed by any community. The men labored on their farms, and the women in their cabins. Their clothing was of a simple and comfortable kind. The women clothed their families with their own hands, spinning and weaving for all their inmates the necessary linen and woolen clothing. At that day no cabins were found without their spinning-wheels, and it is the proud boast of the women that they could use them. As an evidence of their industry and saving of time, it was not an unfrequent occurrence to see a good wife sitting spinning in her cabin upon an earthen floor, turning her wheel with one foot and rocking her babe in a sugar-trough with the other.

" The people of that day, when opportunity offered (and that was not often), attended to public worship; and it was nothing new nor strange to see a man at church with his rifle - his object was to kill a buck either going or comkig. "

First Funeral

" William Green, an emigrant, soon after his arrival sickened and died, in May 1798, and was buried in a hickory-bark coffin on the west bank of Fetters' Run, a few rods north of the old Zanesville road, east of Lancaster. This was the first death and burial of a settler on the Hockhocking. Col. Robert Wilson, of Hocking Township, was present and assisted at the funeral. The deceased had left his family near Wheeling, and came on to build a cabin and raise a crop. "

Fourth Of July

" In 1800, for the first time in the Hockhocking settlement, the settlers - men, women and children - assembled on the knoll in the prairie in front of the present toll-house [the tollhouse has since been removed farther west. - Ed.] on the pike west of Lancaster, and celebrated the Anniversary of American Independence. They appointed no President, or other oflBcers of the day: - no orations delivered or toasts drank. They manifested their joy by shouting, and " hurrah for America," firing off their rifles, shooting at targets, and discussing a public dinner. It may not be improper to say, that their repast was served up in magnificent style. Although they had neither tables, benches, dishes, plates or forks, every substantial in the way of a feast was amply provided, such as baked pone, johnny-cake, roasted bear's meat, jerked turkey, etc. The assemblage dispersed at a timely hour in the afternoon, and returned to their cabins, full of patriotism and love of country. It was my fortune to be present on that interesting occasion."

Here General Sanderson spoke of several townships that were originally in Fairfield County at its first organization, and when it embraced considerable portions of present adjoining counties. These townships have not before been mentioned in this volume, and I here allude to them in the General's own language :

" Reading Township was named by Peter Buermyre, a pioneer settler from Reading, Pennsylvania. He also laid out the town of New Reading, in that township. Somerset, the present seat of justice of Perry County, is situated in this township.

" Pike. - This township was named in honor of General Pike, who gallantly fell in defense of his country, at Toronto, Canada, in the war of 1812.

" Saltcreek Township formerly belonged to Fairfield, but now forms part of Pickaway County. It was named Saltcreek from a stream watering its territory. Tarlton, a flourishing village, is in this township.

" Perry Township, now in Hocking County, was so called in honor of Oliver H. Perry, the hero of Lake Erie in 1813. This township was originally a part of Hocking Township."

An Incident. - " At the June term of 1802 (Court of General Quarter Sessions) - Emanuel Carpenter, Sr., Nathaniel Wilson and Amasa Delano, Justices, on the Bench - the Court ordered the Sherifif to take Alexander White, Attorney-at-Law, into custody, and commit him to prison for one hour, for striking Robert F. Slaughter, also an Attorne3'-at-Law, in presence of their Honors, when in session. I note this circumstance to show that the Court, at that early period, did not suffer an indignity to pass unpunished.

Convention Election

"The first popular election held in the county of Fairfield, was for two members of the Convention to form the Constitution of the State of Ohio. It took \ lace on the 12th of October, 1802, and the following was the result of the poll :

"The members of the Convention assembled at Chillicothe on the first day of November, 1802, and organized by electing Dr. Edward Tiffin, President, and Thomas Scott* Secretary; and after framing the first Constitution of the State of Ohio, adjourned on the 29th of the same month. The Constitution was not submitted to the people, but to Congress for approval; and on the 1st day of March, 1803, the State of Ohio was admitted into the Union as a Sovereign State."

Greneral Sanderson made brief reference to the ancient mounds and fortifications found in Fairfield County, in common with all parts of the West and North-west sections of the North American Continent. Nothing can be known concern, ing these relics ot an extinct people, except the fact that they are. Mere mention of the principal monuments of this kind within the limits of the county will be all, as I think, that modern history requires.

The most important of these is that above the rock-mill, seven miles from Lancaster, on the Lithopolis road. Another embankment, inclosing some ten or twelve acres, near Bauher Church. There are others in Berne Township, near Ream's

Mill. But as verbal descriptions without diagrams would fall short of satisfaction, and as the mounds constitute no part of the history of the county, the notice of them closes here.

War Of 1812

I am able here to transcribe, from Sanderson's pamphlet, the organizations of two companies commanded by him in the war with England, in 1812 and 1813.

This company, with all its officers, on the I6th day of August, 1812, was captured by the British in command of General Brock, or rather surrendered by General Hull, and were paroled not to enter the service until regularly exchanged. The exchange did not take place until May, 1814. In the meanwhile, many of the privates and officers re-enlisted on account of the perfidy of General Hull in surrendering them when there seemed, according to the best judgment of the Americans, no occasion for it. Under this belief the men disregarded the parole. General Sanderson was one of the members who re-enlisted before the exchange, and in April, 1813, he mustered another company from the counties of Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, and from portions of the Western Reserve. The following is its constitution:

Senatoes And Rkpbesentatives Of Fairfield

Here follows a list of all the members of the General Assembly of Ohio, from 1808 to 1876, inclusive, who were citizens of Fairfield County. The date shows the year of their election :

1808 - Patrick Owings and Elijah B. Merwin. 1809 - Thomas Swearingen and Thomas Ijams. 1810 - Thomas Swearingen and Thomas Ijams. 1811 - Thomas Ijams and Richard Hooker. 1812 - Richard Hooker, Nathaniel Wilson, Sr., and George Nye, Sr. 1813 - Emanuel Carpenter, John Leist and Benj. Smith. 1814 - Benj. Smith, Richard Hooker and John Leist. 1815 - Benj. Smith, Richard Hooker and John Leist. 1816 - John Leist, Jacob Claypool and Jacob Catherlin. 1817 - Daniel Smith, Robert F. Slaughter and John Leist. 1818 - Daniel Smith, John Leist and Jacob Claypool. 1819 - Robert F. Slaughter and John Leist. 1820 - Wm. Trimble and Valentine Reber. 1821 - Robert F. Slaughter and George Sanderson. 1822 - Gep. Sanderson and Jacob Claypool. 1823 - Geo. Sanderson and Robert F. Slaughter. 1824 - John Leist and Robert F. Slaughter. 1825 - Geo. Sanderson and Wm. W. Irvin. 1826 - Wm. W. Irvin and Samuel Spangler. 1827 - Wm. W. Irvin and Samuel Spangler. 1828 - Samuel Spangler and John Chan«y. 1829 - John Chaney and David Ewing. 1830 - David Ewing and John Chaney. 1831 - David Ewing and Samuel Spangler. ;

Here the rule changes by the new Constitution, under which the Legislature is elected every two years, the first General Assembly under it being chosen in 1852, and thereafter every other year. The following dates refer to the meeting of the Legislature, instead of, as previously, the year of choosing its niembers.

It will be observed that in the early Legislatures of the State, there were two or more members of the House of Representatives from Fairfield each year, notwithstanding the popula- tion was comparatively sparse; but it is to be remembered, that at first the county was more than four times its present area. The first contraction of its borders was by the formation of Licking County, in 1808, which fixed our northern border on its present line ; then by the creation of Perry County, in 1817, fixing mainly our eastern boundary. Both Newark and Somerset were originally in Fairfield County. Considerable territory was also taken from the qriginal Fairfield County, as established by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, on the 9th of December, 1800, by the formation of Pickaway and Hocking counties. In the Senate of Ohio, the names of actual residents of Fairfield County are here inserted, beginning also in 1808, and coming up to 1876. The county has much of the time been represented in the Senate by men from other counties forming the Senatorial District ; and as the districting has frequently been changed, Fairfield has only had her proportion

After the adoption of the new Constitution, in 1851, Fairfield was associated with Hocking and Athens, and Lot. L. Smith, of Athens, was chosen Senator in the two terms of 1852 and 1854.

Fairfield In The Rebellion Of 1861

Sixteen years have been registered on Time's scroll since the patriotism of this great nation was aroused by the lightning's flash, anouncing that Fort Sumpter had been fired upon by the Confederate guns. It is difficult, at this somewhat distant period, to chronicle with specific minuteness the full extent of the part Fairfield County took in the four years' war that followed. Her soldiers were so widely distributed, and so variously; her officers passed through so many promotions; so many were consigned to southern graves from the fields of carnage; the hospitals and southern prisons; that nothing short of a thorough canvass of the rolls could show it all. It is a work of altogether too great a magnitude for our plan. While P record the names and ranks of the officers, to the "extent that existing facilities allow, I would be glad to register the names of every volunteer from the county, because every one that went out deserves equal mention. This will not be compatible with a three-hundred page county history. It may be that some omissions may occur of names even of officers. Should this be found to be so, the only apology the author can offer is, that he has accomplished all that his possibilities have permitted. To Colonel J. M. Connel, Capt. Geo. Blaire, Capt. J. M. Sutphen, Gen. N. Schleich and others; and to " Ohio in the War," by Reid, I am indebted for valuable aid in the war record of Fairfield County.