Knox County, Ohio - Chapter 68: Pike Township., 1881

IKE TOWNSHIP was established June 8, 1819, by act of the county commissioners and given the name of Pike in honor of General Pike. The following extract is taken from their journal for the date above given:

Ordered. 'That the following boundaries be and are hereby set apart into a separete township, viz.: Beginning at the southeast corner of township number eight, and range number twelve, and running west tothe east line of range number thirteen; thence north to the southeast corner of township number eight in range thirteen; thence west to the southwest corner of said eighth township; thence north on the line between the thirteenth and fourteenth ranges to the north boundary of said Knox county; thence east on said boundary to where the line between the eleventh and twelfth ranges intersects said boundary; thence north on said range line to the place of beginning, which shall henceforth be considered a separate and distinct township, and enjoy all the privileges of such, which shall be called and known by the name of Pike township.

At their session the next day the commissioners ordered an election to be held at the house of Michael Harter, on the twenty-sixth day of June instant, for the election of township officers.

Pike township is situated in the northern part of the county, and contains thirty-six square miles of territory, a portion of which lies north of the Greenville Treaty line, adjacent to Richland county. The surface of the country is somewhat broken by Schenck's creek, which traverses the township from north to south. The soil is not of the best, being principally composed of the debris of the Waverly of grass, oats and wheat. About one-fourth of the township is still in woods, chestnut, white oak and hickory predominating. By judicious farming Pike township has been enabled to rival her more favored sisters in wealth and improvement.

The date of the first 'settlement has not been ascertained; but in 1816 an Irishman named Henry Lander was found living on the southwest quarter of section No. 13. He was a man of giant stature and Herculean strength, and had been a member of the Irish dragoons, the exploits of which he used to relate with great gusto. He was six feet six inches high, weighed two hundred and fifty pounds,- and would wager whiskey for the crowd that seven men could not take off his hat. He would then back up against.a wall or tree, and with his long arms swinging in the air defy all approach of his adversaries.

John Arnold was born in Maryland in 178s, came to Pike township in 1816, and located on the southwest quarter of section No. 8, where he reared his family, one of whom, William Arnold, is still living in the township, aged seventy-seven.

Charles McBride also came from Maryland, and settled on the southwest quarter of section No. 4, in 1816, where he lived and died. His sons, Hugh and William, moved to the west about 1855. None of his descendants now live in the township.

Aaron Bixby came from Huron county, Ohio, to Howard township, and moved from there to Pike township in 1816, and located on the southeast quarter of section No. 16, known as the Josiah Crawford place. Mr. Bixby taught school in the first school-house built in the township. It was a rude, round log structure, and stood about one-half mile south of the present town of North Liberty, in 1823. He has now no representative in the township.

Philip Armentrout located on the northwest quarter of section No. 8, where he remained till his death. None of his family now reside in the township.

Nicholas Headington was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, and moved to Pike township, Knox county, in 1822. His son, Nicholas, brought the first tobacco seed to Knox county, and raised the first tobacco for shipment.

Aaron Wilson was also an early settler and a useful citizen. He moved west in 1837. His son Lewis still lives in the township, and has reared a large family.

The first election was held at the house of Michael Harter, June 26, 1819, but as no records have been preserved the names of the officers elected cannot be given. The entire number of voters in the township in 1822 was nineteen. Their names were John Arnold, Robert Kennedy, Jacob Swartz, Thomas Elwell, William Wright, Aaron Wilson, John Scoles, William Smith, Thomas Scoles, Andrew Scoles, George H. Scoles, Phillip Armentrout, Benjamin Austin, John Butler, William Spry, Francis Popham, David Holloway, John Gordon, and Cyrus McDonald.

The present board of township officers is constructed as follows: John Nichols and Henry Lockhart, justices of the peace; Philip Arnold and Henry Philips, constables; James J. P. Mishey, treasurer; John Wallace, assessor; John Wyman, Joseph Stoffer, and George Shipley, trustees; John Fletcher, clerk; S. D. Parrish, Thomas Simmons, John T. Read, Joseph Stoffer, John Nichols, Samuel Burger, Calvin Loney, John Wineland, board of education; Wesley Bryant, Silas Daniels, William Horn, Henry Stoffer, Miles Dakins, Samuel Burger, David I.eedy and Samuel Horton, board of supervisors.

The elections have generally been held at the school-house near the centre of the township, but about 1840 the polls were changed to the Six Corners, and vibrated between the two places for some time. Finally the present location, school-house No. 4, was settled upon.

The following is a consecutive list of justices: Andrew Scoles and Robert Silcost, 1819; William Smith, 1820; Bernard Reece, 1822; William Smith and Aaron Bixby, 1823; Bernard Reece, William Johnson and William McNear, 1825; Andrew Scoles, 1827; William Smith, 1829; Hugh Kirkpatrick, 1850; F. Popham and John Cochran, jr., 1831; William Smith, 1833; John Gordon and F. Popham, 1834; John Cochran, jr., 1836; John Gordon and J. Y. Barnhard, 1837; John Cochran, jr., 1839; John Gordon, 1840; Emanuel Wagoner, 1842; John Gordon and William Arnold, 1843; John Ramsey, 1844; Amos De Haven and W. W. Maneer, 1846; John Ramsey, 1847; W. W. Maneer and Eli Dickerson, 1840; C. P. Frederick, 1850; Eli Dickerson and W. W. Maneer, 1852; R. C. Sweeney, 1853; H. P. Roberts and J. D.

The first grist-mill in Pike township was built by John Arnold in 1831, or Schenck's creek, on the southwest quarter of section No. 8 It was a small mill, containing but one run of buhrs, but did a good business for one of its size, grinding sometimes one hundred bushels in the course of twenty-four hours. It continued in operation till about 1851. The next grist-mill was built by a man by the name of Hillis, who erected a small mill on the northwest quarter of section No. 23, He sold out to James Stephens. Stephens sold to Benjamin Spry, who sold to John Walkey in 1836. Mr. Walkey put in two run of buhrs, and operated the mill until 1874.

The first saw-mill was built by an Englishman named Thomas Smith, on the southwest quarter of section No. 18, about 1832. This mill sawed a great deal of lumber, and was a very useful one. Silas Daniels bought it in 1836.

Jacob Wineland built a saw-mill on the southwest quarter of section No. 4, in 1833, which is now owned by his son, John Wineland, and is running.

A saw-mill was also built by Daniel Armentrout in 1854, and sold to Martin Kunkel. It is not now in operation. ~ In 1849 John Walkey built an excellent sawmill on Schenck's creek, near the centre of section No. 23, which is still operated by Mr. Walkey, he filing his.own saw without glasses at the age of eighty-four. ;

David Braddock kept store at Braddock's Cross roads trom 1840 till 1850, being the only store kept outside the villages of Amity and North Liberty. David Hatch, the son-in-law of Isaac Vernon, who located on the northwest quarter of section twenty-four now occupied by J.R. Phillips, in 1834 brought with him the first threshing-machine and first cooking stove seen in Pike township.

John Arnold_and Daniel Grubb at one time ran a distillery, but at the present time Pike township, with a population of one thousand three hundred and seven, has not a single saloon, or other place within its borders, where intoxicating drinks are sold.

The first Methodist preaching in Pike township was held in private houses, by Rev. Goff. Meetings were held at McBride's, Wilson's, Bixby's, and Vernon's. The first class leader was Aaron Wilson; and the early members were Aaron Bixby and Nancy, his wife; Isaac Vernon and Martha, his wife; Charles, Thomas, and William McBride, Thomas and Sally Wilson, the Fletchers, Elwells, Deems, and others. The first quarterly meeting was held in Aaron Bixby's barn - the first frame barn erected in the neighborhood - now owned by Henry Eckenrode. A great revival occurred at this meeting, and the accessions to the church were sO numerous that it was determined to build a house of worship. Accordingly a small plat of ground was obtained of Hugh Hardesty, on the southwest quarter of section twenty-four, and in 1827 Hugh and John Cochran built a log church, which served the purpose until 1850, when a more commodious and substantial edifice was erected. The new building is a frame, forty by fifty feet, the lumber for which was hauled from Waterford, Middlebury township. The building committee were Richard Scoles, Joseph Hollis, and Reuben Kettle.

Among the ministers who preached in the old log church were Revs. John Scoles, John Morey, James Quigley, Elnathan Raymond, Daniel and William Conant, Zephaniah Bell, Revs. Block, Clark, and Blue, Oliver Burgess, John Burgess, and Daniel Lambert. The present preacher in charge is Rev. John Thompson. The present number of members is about seventy-five. Allen Kirkpatrick is recording steward, and Lyman Magers, W. W. Walkey, and George H. Scoles class leaders.

North Liberty Methodist Episcopal church is an offshoot of the old Pike Methodist church; and some of the same persons who were early members of that congregation were early members of this. Among them were Francis Blakeney and Hannah, his wife; George Frizzle and wife, Charles Mc- Bride and wife, Thomas McBride and wife, William Mcbride and wife, J. Nelson Dean and wife, John Arnold and wife, William Arnold and wife, Henry 'Armentrout and wife, and Simon Armentrout and wife. Charles McBride was the class leader.

About the year 1840 a frame church, thirty-five by forty-five feet square, was built in the village of North Liberty, which is still used as a house of worship. In 1861 the demon of political discord entered this church, and it was rent in twain. During the war, and for some time afterwards, the church stood idle; but after the settlement of the vexed question, slavery, the church revived, meetings were once more held, and now there is a membership of about fifty. William Penrose and Lockhart Arnold are the class leaders. Rev. John Thompson is the preacher in charge.

A Methodist Episcopal church was built on the southwest quarter of section ten, about 1845. An organization had been effected some years previous to the erection of the church, and the members held their meetings in the school-house. David Guthrie donated the land and most of the timber for the church, which was built of hewed logs.

The organization was dissolved about 1856, the members uniting with the Methodist church at Amity and North Liberty. There was a cemetery attached to this church, which was laid out many years before the church was built. David Guthrie was the first person buried in the cemetery. John Cochran, one of the first members, was buried here in August, 1835. |

A union church is now being erected, which is free for all denominations to worship in, but will be known as the Pike Cumberland Presbyterian church.

of North Liberty in 1846, and formed a Lutheran class, amongst whom were Henry Boven and wife, Jacob Gower and wife, William Worley and wife, and Adam Stump and wife.

In 1860 the congregation had become large enough to need a church building, and a neat brick edifice, thirty-six by forty-six feet square, was erected in the town of North Liberty.

Amity is situated in the southeast corner of Pike township. It is a neat and and orderly village, having a population of about one hundred and fifty. It was laid out in 1832 by David Jackson, who owned the land on which the village was located. It was originally called Emmettsville, but the name was changed from that to Amity about 1837. The town was on the line of the old stage route leading from Wooster to Columbus, and in an early day was a place of considerable business. Lewis Strong was the first merchant in the village. His successors were Scott Gilchrist, Mackey Mateer, Joseph Mateer, Frank Popham, Dr. Wright, and Isaac Cline, nnder the firm name of Wright & Cline. About 1840 Johri Collins started another store in the village, which he carried on for about two years, when he sold his stock of goods to D. P.

and dé. RooWright. oc PhesfirnmofDs Pasers R. Wright was dissolved in 1844, and anew firm, D. P. & C. W. Wright, commenced business, continuing about a year, when D. P. Wright purchased his partner's interest in the establishment. I). P. Wright was in turn succeeded by Dowds & Barber, who are still doing business.

David Jackson -kept the first hotel. His successors in the hotel business were Muncie, Willet & Paxon, Benjamin P. Wright, Joseph Popham, Scott Gilchrist, John Riddle, - - Jones, D. P. Wright, E. W. Douds, and John Weirick. John Britton was the first blacksmith. Johnson was the first physician; Drs. Mire and Stinger were also early physicians. A post office was established a short time after the village was laid, and named Democracy. William Gordon was the first postmaster; he was succeeded by Henry Yarrick, James Gilchrist, D. P. Wright, Jerrod Parrish, and C. C. Barber, the present incumbent. The first school-house, a log building, was erected about 1833; it was situated in the south part of the village. McDermott taught the first school in this edifice, and Jesse Cain the second one. 'This structure was burned about. two years after its erection, and the village school was taught for some years afterwards in an old log cabin outside of the town. This log building, that was destroyed by fire, was replaced by a neat frame school-house, built within the village limits about 1842.

At present the village contains two dry goods stores, owned by M. A. Barber and son and J. A. Wright; one hotel, kept by John Weirick; one steam tannery and saw-mill combined, owned and shops by C. Doup, jr., and C. C. Clements; one wagon maker, S. D. Parrish; one shoemaker, James Westcott; one undertaker, D. P. Wright; one physician, J. L. Black; two lodges of secret societies, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Honor; and two churches, Methodist Episcopal and Baptist.

Amity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized October 23, 1879, with a membership of ten, viz: J. L. Black, C. W. Wright, James McGinley, Jeremiah Belt, L. G. Mavis, L. A. Wright, James Reed, Ziba Leonard, H. W. Phillips, and J. Hetrick. The first officers were:

L. A. Wright, N. G.; H. W. Phillips, V. G.; Ziba Leonard, R. S., and J. L. Black, treasurer. L. A. Wright, the first noble grand, died before the expiration of his term of office, and by a special dispensation of E. K. Wilson, grand master, J. L. Black was elected to fill the vacant chair as noble grand for the remainder of the term. This lodge is known as Bartholo Lodge No. 692, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is the last lodge instituted within the county up to the present date. It has not yet had an opportunity to make for itself a history, but being located in a wealthy and intelligent community, its future is bright and full of encouragement. There has been but one death since its organization. The present membership is twenty-nine. The officers at this time are: H. W. Phillips, N. G.; Ziba Leonard, V. G.; J. L. Black, secretary, and James McGinley, treasurer. The lodge holds its regular meetings on each Saturday evening.

Amity Lodge No. 111, Knights of Honor, was instituted May 20, 1875. Its charter members were: William Loney, Curtis Fletcher, S. D. Parrish, Henry Davis, J. L. Graves, George Mc- Clurg, Miles Dakins, Henry Snyder, Samuel Hardin and J. B. Lybarger. The first officers were: C. Fletcher, dictator; Miles Dakins, reporter; William Loney, treasurer; S. D. Parrish, past dictator; George McClurg, assistant dictator ; Henry Snyder, guide, and Henry Davis, sentinel. The present officials are: Miles Dakins, dictator; Curtis Fletcher, reporter; William Loney, treasurer; George McClurg, past dictator; William Loney, guide; Samuel Hoag, assistant dictator; Thomas Berry, sentinel; J. B. Lybarger, financial reporter. The present membership of this lodge is seventeen. The regular meetings are held the first and third Saturday evenings of each month.

The Amity Methodist Episcopal church, organized about 1834, was the first in the village. The early members of this organization were, Rev. Francis Popham and wife, Samuel Britton and wife, Albert Grubb, Absalom Waddle, McNear, and Henry Oram and wife. Two of the prominent members of this society were also licensed local preachers, viz: Absalom Waddle and Francis Popham, who frequently preached to thischurch. The meetings were at first held in the houses of, the

About 1840, a frame church was erected at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. One of the earliest ministers was Bishop W. L. Harris. His ministerial labors were greatly blessed, and during his pastorate a remarkable revival occurred, and one hundred and seven members were added to the church, The following ministers have officiated as pastors of this church since 1848. 1849-50, E. Raymond, assisted by O. Mitchell and William M. Conant; 1851, John McNabb; 1852-3, Leonard Parker, assisted by John K. Ford and Baruch Jones; 1854-5, Joseph Wolf, assisted by Albert Cochran and Daniel M. Conant; 1856-7, Philip Plummer, assisted by Benjamin F. Heskitt; 1858 9, D. Lambert, assisted by Benjamin Heskitt; 1860 - 61-62, Chilton Craven and William Hudson; 1863, Daniel M. Conant; 1864, Daniel Lambert; 1865, supplied; 1866, Joseph McBarnes; 1867-8, supplied; 1869-70, William Kepler; 1871-2, Thomas G. Robetts; 1873, S.. Z. Kauliman; 1874, G. EE. Scott; 1875, W. W. Smith; 1876-7-8, A. S. Moffitt; 1879-80, J. W. Thompson. In 1871 a new church edifice was erected at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars, and in 1874 a parsonage was built at a cost of about one thousand dollars. The present membership is fifty-three, thirty-two being in full membership, and twenty-one probationers. The present officers are: class-leaders, J. W. Rockwell and J. W. Simmons; stewards, Michael Mc- Ginney and J. W. Simmons; trustees, Frank Cunningham, Martin Fletcher, J. W. Rockwell, and J, W. Simmons.

The second church organized in the town was the Amity church of Disciples of Christ. 'This society was organized about 1840, by Elder John Gordon. Its early members were, Joseph Gordon, Jacob, Esther, and Eleanor Pealer, William Gordon, Samuel Pealer, Elias Pealer and their wives, Rigdon Gordon, John Gordon and wife, Elizabeth Gordon, Catharine Gordon, O. Quimby and wife, John Riddle and wife, Mrs. Ball, John Quimby, Jesse Edgar, Amos Nichols, William Hartgrove, John Pond, James Harrison and their wives, and - - Latta. Elder Sanders was the first stated pastor, and remained in that relation several years. John supplies from other societies for its preaching. This society held their meetings in private houses until 1850, when a frame edifice was erected, in which the members worshipped until 1880, when it was torn down. On account of removals, deaths of members, and dissensions in the church, the organization was disbanded several years since.

The Amity Baptist church was organized June 21, 1847, under the auspices of Rev. James Seymour. The original members were William Wright, Daniel Hardin, Joel Odors, Mary Wright, Elizabeth Hardin, Mrs. Odors, Marion Daniels, Jane Vian, Jane Daymude and Sarah Hicks. Prior to the organization, and about the year 1845, Elders Stoors, and David Thomas, of Mt. Vernon, occasionally preached in the village, and by their earnest labors laid the foundation for the organization of this society. Rev. Daniel Thomas was the first stated pastor. His successors in the pastorate were Elders Reason Lockheart, James Fry, Benjamin George, James Seymour, Rey. Tullison, Benjamin Tulloss, Benjamin Morrison. This church enjoyed a high degree of prosperity for several years after its organization, but in course of time several of the members having emigrated to the west, and a large number dying, the society became weak, and they were without a regular pastor for several years. In 1880 Rev. J. A. Davis took ministerial charge of the church, and the church has now regular preaching. The society worships in a frame edifice erected by the Presbyterians, but subsequently purchased by this society. The present offices are: C. W. Wright, deacon; B. F. Vian, clerk.

North Liberty is situated in the northern part of Pike township, and was laid out by Francis Blakeley, William Johnson, Daniel Grubb, and J. Nelson Dean, in 1838. The first house on the new town plat was built on the northwest corner of the principal street crossings, by Daniel Grubb, for a dwelling house. A store room now occupies the corner owned by James K. P. Mishey. The first frame house was built by Daniel Grubb for a tavern and store room, and was situated on the southeast corner of the street crossing. David Grubb dug the public well, assisted by the most public spirited citizens of the new town. The store room on the southwest corner of the .crossing was not built till 1849, by Jacob Smith. The first store in the village was kept by a man named Doolittle, in the store room built by, Daniel Grubb. His successors were Henry Reichart, Jacob Smith, Israel and Miller Moody, Charles Hedges, Philip Fredericye William Arnold, and his brother Philip, James Pearce, Samuel Bishop, and Christian Mishey, Jacob Myers, M. L. Lane, Truman Mix, and James Mishey. Mr. Mix died and I)aniel Beal became Mr. Mishey's partner, remaining in business with him about two years, since which time Mr. Mishey has carried on the business himself. Mr. Christian Mishey also kept a grocery in the post office corner, where Albert Mishey now keeps a grocery. J. N. Ruby also kept a grange store from 1875 till 1880.

Daniel Grubb kept the first tavern in the house built by him for that purpose. His successors were Jacob Myers, Samuel and George Black, George Sickles, John Bishop, Lloyd Meeks, Henry Westonhaver, John Fry, William Armstrong, Samuel Shyers, Jacob Beal, John Hammett, and Dr. Charles Mahaffey.

The post office was first established at Jonathan Smith's, in the northwest corner of Pike township, in 1848, with Jonathan Smith as postmaster, but in 1850 it was moved to North Liberty, and Henry Taney appointed postmaster. His successors were Levi Ponds, Joshua Kneffer, Robert Sweeney, Christopher Mishey, Seymour Hunter, and Albert Mishey, who was appointed January 1, 1880.

The practicing physicians of North Liberty have been Drs. John Waddell, Robert McLaughlin, Edward Booth, T. Jefferson Young, George Shira, and Charles Mahaffey, the latter of whom is the present practitioner.

The first blacksmith was James Huston; then Jacob Lautz, Hugh Beach, David Kenig, James Ward, Samuel Brown, Wilson Turney, and John Shanton.