Knox County, Ohio - Chapter 29: Jefferson Townsnip, 1862

The township bearing tlie honored name of President Jeifarson, after having served a tutelage of several years composing a portion of the bailiwick of Brown, is, in 1829, at the March term of the Commissioners, declared a *' distinct Township," and an election is ordered for township officers the 1st Monday of April, 1829, at tlie liouse of Andrew Lockard. Its metes and bounds had been prescribed on the 9th of March, 1825, but from lack of population an organization was not then effected. The Mohican river passes through this township, furnishing several mill seats. In 1830, it contained 311 inhabitants ; in 1840, 994; in 1850, 1,484; and in 1860, 1,458. In this as other eastern townships, the names of a few families predominate. The Greers, the Critchiields, the Sapps, the Hibbitses, the Erosts, the Schultzes, the Bakers, are to be met Avith on almost every hill. The Critchiields and Sapps we have elsewhere sj)oken of. The Greers are mainly descendants of that noble old patriarch John Greer, who was a native of the Emerald Isle, and was what is called an Irish patriot. Possessed of a powerful constitution and vigorous intellect, he took a prominent position among the pioneers. He was particularly efficient in the military line, and raised a company for service in the war of 1812. He did much to promote the formation of companies in the eastern townships. He was from 1812 to 1817 Collector of Taxes, in 1830 Keprescntative, and for many years Justice of the Peace, and during his life a very useful citizen. Eor thirty years some of the Greer name have officiated as Justices in this township. Among its most valued citizens have been Alexander, late County Treasurer, and father of the present Treasurer, Robert, Richard, Silas, Mark, James, "big Jim" and "little Jimmy." Capt. Jack Melton, Aaron Mathene, Andrew Mckee, Ephraim McMillen, Jacob Shiner and George Greer, were also old settlers.

Jacob Colopy has resided in this township since 1825. He is a son of Timothy, a native of Ireland, who emigrated from Virginia in 1813. Jacob married a daughter of George Sapp, in 1825. They have eight children - five now living in the eastern part of Knox. John Hibbets, Joseph Critchfield, Josiah Trimblv, Matthew Davidson, Charles Miller were also much respected.

In this township there are two post offices - Greersville and Nonpareil. Greersville was established about 1818, and the post masters have been Robert Greer and Alexander Greer. Nonpareil is at Mt. Hollv, and was established in 1819. Its post masters have been Robert Long, A. Gardner, John Critchfield and A. Gardner.

In early times there were many insects and reptiles of great annoyance to the early settlers. Among other evidences of the fact is the following comical aifair related by a citizen of this township : Old John Daily and Alex. Darling got up a bet of a quart of whisky about the ability of a man to stand black ants, ticks and all else, save gallinippers, without flinching. Daily, accordingly, to show it could be done, stripped off his clothes and laid down on his face in the sand, where the ants were thick, and Darling was to keep the gallinippers off. After laying there several minutes Darling let three or four gallinippers on his bare back, but Daily did not flinch for them - then determined to win his bet he whispered to one of the spectators to bring him a coal of fire, which was got and put on him, but Daily let the live coal roast his flesh for fifteen minutes without ever flinching, and with his muscles firm bore it together with the ants and gallinippers until the half hour was up, and won the quart of whisky.