Meade, Ohio

Other early settlers in the township who came here in the last years of the 18th century 01 first years of the 19th were Thomas and John Barr, John Sharp, John Rush. Matthew Ferguson (who attained the advanced age of 99 years) and Jonathan Ellis, an early cabinetmaker and carpenter, who constructed the frame of the Boggs mill. David Shelby was also one of the first settlers in Pickaway township, locating here prior to 1800. He was a member of the State Legislature for 21 con secutive years, with the exception of one term, and was the first justice of the peace elected in the township of Pickaway.

Passage source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, published 1906.

Palestine Church, in the northeastern part J of the township, was built about the year 1840 j by a German Reformed and Lutheran Society. The Methodists afterwards bought an interest ciation stands about half a mile east of Havesville, near the center of the township. The class was formed by Rev. John Dreisbach in 1835, the first members being Rev. John Dreisbach and wife, Thomas Kraft and wife, Adam Boyer and wife and John Kraft and wife. Abraham Dreisbach, who subsequently became minister of the church, and Isaac E., Catherine and Sophia Dreisbach and Mrs. Eliza Steely were also early members, uniting soon alter the organization was effected. The first meetings were held at the dwellings of the members and afterwards in a log schoolbouse. Subsequently the society used the frame schoolbouse, which replaced the log one, until the erection of their present church in the summer of 1850. Rev. John Dreisbach, who lived on the farm where the church is located and whose remains lie beside those of his wife in the adjoining cemetery, gave the ground for the church and cemetery, and the sum of Si. 000 toward the building of the church. The church is especially historic to the members of the Evangelical Association from the fact that Mr. Dreisbach was one of the founders of the association, which was first known as the Albright Church, being a co-worker with Bishop Albright. The church building cost $903.61 to erect. It was dedicated December 22. 1850, by Bishop Joseph Long and Presiding Elder J. G. Zinser. The outside of the building has never been structurally changed, but the interior has been remodeled several times. Rev. John Dreisbach preached for the class for a few years, until the regular circuit preachers were appointed. John Heisler was class leader until 1840, when Isaac E. Dreisbach, son of Rev. John Dreisbach and father of the present Sunday-school superintendent, B. F. Dreisbach, was appointed. Isaac E. Dreisbach continued as leader until his death in 1897 - a Period of 57 years. The church has a present membership of 50. Rev. G. \Y. Miesse, of Stoutsville, is pastor. The church building, although over 50 years old, has received such good care that it is still in excellent condition, being worth about $2,000 at this

Passage source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, published 1906.

The first schools in the township were kept I in unoccupied "cabins and were supported by private subscriptions. Jesse Bartlett was one | of the pioneer teachers. The first schoolbouse i was probably the Rawl schoolbouse, in which | the first term of school was kept by Hugh liannagan. The first log- meeting-house built ! at Salem (Meade) in 1802 or 1S03 was also j used as a schoolhouse. David Jones was one ! of those who taught school in this house. 1 here are now nine schoolhouses in the township, all built of brick and in good condition. Ihe Board of Education of Pickaway township is : constituted as follows : Amos Hoffman, Dennis C. Rader, Henry R. Calvert. Charles Hail and Willis Ludwig. Edward Wilkins is clerk of the board.

Passage source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, published 1906.

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 Pickaway Township - it names this place 4 more 4 times.