Guernsey County, Ohio - Chapter 29: Moxkoe Township, 1911

Monroe township was cut from Jefferson township in April, 1818. It is on the north line of the county, and bounded on the east by Washington township, on the south by Jefferson, on the west by Wheeling. It is five miles square and hence contains about twenty -five sections of land. It is a well watered and drained portion of the county, devoted mostly to farming and stock raising. New Birmingham is the only village platted within the borders of the township. This was an early-day platting, but was re-platted in i860, for assessment purposes. It is located on section 11, township 4, range 2. Here a postoffice and a few business houses were erected and maintained for years. It is now an inland place of little, if any, business importance.

As one passes through this portion of the county, today, in search of historic facts concerning the early settlement of this particular township, he cannot fail to be impressed with the fact that time changes all things earthly, and that none are now living who witnessed the first efforts at making a home within this part of Guernsey county; the pioneer has completed his mission and rests from the cares of life. However, as late as 1876, when a census was taken of the oldest persons in this township, the following were found still residents, and none were then less than seventy-six years of age: Thomas, Sarah and Thomas I. Moore, Jane Moore, Hezekiah Moore, Mary Engle, Benjamin Culbertson, Solomon Colley, Lydia Colley, Aneas Randall, Annie McDonald. Archibald Little, Delphi Grimsley, Sarah White, William Wornick, Jane Wornick, Sidney Little, William Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Sarah Anderson, Daniel Clark, James Neil, John Neil, Sarah Richards, Amos Richards, Sarah Gray. Elizabeth Clark, Isaac Beal, Andrew Thompson, Margaret Willis, George Willis, Nancy Virtue, Martha Aiken, Lydia Lanning, Sarah Edwards, James Crossgrove, J. Hollingsworth, Margaret Shaw, John Smith, Eleanor Campbell, Rebecca Burnworth, Matthew Johnson, and Pleasant Tedrick.

Isaac M. Lanning was horn in New Jersey in 1788 and bought land in this county, but had the misfortune to lose it by reason of a defective title. He married Lidie Fuller and moved to the farm he had selected here. He died in 1867. He had held the office of justice of the peace for more than twenty years in this township, hence was well known and highly popular.

Frederick Braninger, a native of Maryland, was born in 1788 and after his removal to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, he married Susannah Hayes, and fifteen years later located in this township. He was a devoted member of the Protestant Methodist church.

Samuel Virtue was born in Ireland in 1775, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He married in 1799 and in 1816 made the long sea voyage to this country. He settled in Ohio county, West Virginia, where he lived for fifteen years, then located in Monroe township, this county, and spent the balance of his days here on a farm. He raised a large and highly interesting family, who have gone forth to different callings in life.

Isaac Beal, a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, born in 1796, lived there until he married Martha Todd, and then removed to this township, where the remainder of his days were spent. Eight children were born of this union, who survived to manhood and womanhood. Osborn, the sixth child, was born in 1S28 and married Amanda M. Randall and they then set up another household within the township. He was a trustee of Monroe township a number of years and held other offices. When he settled here Beymerstown had only one house.