Germantown, Ohio

Tuis is the name that the county fathers, in 1832, applied to that part of the county now bounded on the north, for four miles, by Noble county; for the remaining northern two miles of boundary, by Monroe county; on the east by Ludlow township, on the south by Lawrence township, and on the west by Salem township. The name, which probably originated in the tact of some one of the commissioners, is appropriately bestowed, for if it be true that mountainous countries have always been the fastnesses of freedom, it is in keeping with it that a hilly region should be the abode of liberty. These hills, in general, arrange themselves into one principal and many subsiding ridges. The main ridge extends from the north projection of the township (section twelve), in almost a straight southwestern course, leaving the western boundary a mile from the southern line. From this back-bone extend many ribs, a few reaching westward toward Pawpaw creek, but the most and the longest, stretching southward and southeastward, as arbitrators of the claims of the various tributaries of Fifteen Mile creek. The longest of these ridges extends directly south from the north end of the main ridge for the six miles that it is in the township. The eastern slope of this is drained by the smaller streams, such as the west branch of Winget's run, which reaches the Little Muskingum directly. Along the foot of the western slope, the East fork of Fifteen Mile creek flows. This is divided from the West fork of the same stream by another remarkably straight ridge, which extends south from the upper end of the main ridge, four miles. These forks, after flowing almost directly south, unite in the northern part of section seven, and leave the township two miles west of its southeast corner. The three main tributaries of this stream from the west are, beginning with the most northerly, which rises in the centre of the township, Sycamore, Goss fork, and Dean's fork. The eastern slope of this main ridge, belongs, of course, to the Little Muskingum basin. The western slope furnishes three main streams, flowing nearly west to Pawpaw. Beginning at the north, they are Saltpetre, Koon run, and Campbell run. The first owes its name to the fact that some time in the thirties, a Mr. Davis was wont to come from the north to a cave in its bank, a short distance from where Germantown now is, and containing crude nitre. He would use it in the manufacture of gun-powder, in which he was engaged. The derivation of Koon run is obvious. It is so called from the residents of that name who first settled, and whose descendants still exist, along its valley. Campbell run is so called from the pioneer, Patrick Campbell, who settled on the stream very early. At that time it was called Horse run.

Passage source: History of Washington County, Ohio, published 1881.

Pawpaw itself enters the township about two miles and a half east of the northwest township corner, and flows southwest to a point two miles directly north of the southwest corner. Its waters eventually 'find the Ohio by means of Duck creek. Along its banks the traces of the wonderful Mound Builders appeared in the shape of remains of ancient furnaces of stone with hearths of clay. These were probably used for smelting, for they contained, when found, cinder and pieces of stone coal. These furnaces evidently existed in great numbers along the creek.

Passage source: History of Washington County, Ohio, published 1881.

Shortly after the pioneer, Patrick Campbell, ventured into the wilderness as far as Horse run. About 1835 Richard Albery moved in on the head of Whipple run. But this settlement, thus begun in the southern part of the township, was of short life. It was destined that the northern part, that about the site of Germantown, was to be the scene of the final permanent settlement. The first one to make his home here was Matthew Gray, who came from the Harrietville settlement. As vsual with the first settlers, he made his way along the natural pathway, worn for him by the rapid flowing of a stream, In this case he came to the banks of Pawpaw, about half a mile above the mouth of Saltpetre. Those who shared his danger and his home with him were his wife, whose name before marriage. was Amy Enochs, and his children. There were nine of these in all, named William, David, Elijah, Jesse, George, James, Elizabeth, Rhoda, and one whose name has been forgotten.

Passage source: History of Washington County, Ohio, published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Liberty Township - it names this place 8 more 8 times.