Adams Township

Adams Township

ADAMS township is situated in the eastern part of the county. 'On the north and east it touches Tuscarawas county, Oxford .township on the south and "White Eyes on the west. The surface is hilly throughout though not to a degree depriving the land of value for agricultural purposes. The soil is, for the most part, argillaceous or clayey. Some of the hills, however, are covered with a sandy loam. It is productive, yielding abundant harvests of corn and wheat, the principal crops grown. The highest land lies in the northern part. Here are the head waters of two streams which flow in a southerly direction draining the entire surface of the township. The moi'e easterly of the two, Evans creek, passes through Oxford township on the south and soon after mingles its waters with those of the winding Tuscarawas. The other, called the East Fork of White Eyes creek, bends to the northwest when near the southern limit of the township and enters White Eyes township. The numerous little brooks that feed these streams, trickling through nearly every dale, attest the existence of many fine springs.

The township is five miles square in area, consisting of the sixth township in the fourth range of the United States military district. The eastern half was congress land, which was surveyed into sections of one mile square by Alexander Holmes, in the year 1803. The western half was composed of two military sections of 4,000 acres each. In 1800 military land could be entered only in tracts of 4,000 acres, and it sometimes occurred that a number of persons, each holding an insufficient number of warrants to enter a whole section, would unite their several claims for this purpose, afterward dividing the section among themselves, in proportion to the amount of each one's warrants. Thus it was with both of these sections. The northern one, constituting the northwest quarter of the township, was entered by a company of ten individuals as follows: Jesse and Abijali Hunt, of Hamilton county, holding warrants for 1,500 acres ; Ephraim True, with warrants for 600 hundred acres ; James Percival, of Connecticut, for 500; Lewis Morris, of Charleston, South Carolina, for 400 ; Joseph Loveland, of Fairfield county, for 300; Joseph Lockland, for 300, and four others, Henry Ross, of Washington county; -John Buel, major in the army; Stephen Smith and Christopher Hamel, for 100 acres each. The section was located and surveyed for the company by John Matthews, he receiving in compensation for his services the onetenth part, or 400 acres. The other section, forming the southwest quarter of the township, was located for a company of Marylanders, of whom Rezin Davis and 0. H. Williams were the most extensive shareholders, the two owning more than the one-half of the section. S. Herbert, Jacob S. Towson, Richard Pindall, W. VanLear and P. Thomas had lesser amounts. TJie land in these two sections was not placed in the market for many years, and, as the owners were non-res- idents, the settlement of this portion of the township was somewhat retarded. The few pioneers who settled here, did so without title to the soil, and were obliged to abandon their cabins when the legal holders put in their appearance, if they "had not already done so.

Upon the formation of Oxford township, in the fall of 1811, that territory was embraced in its limits which now constitutes Adams township. In 1823, when White Eyes township was organized, the northwestern quarter of what is now Adams township was taken from Oxford, and made a part of the new township. In 1832, the county commissioners ordered the establishment of Adams township, as it now exists. The completion of the organization, by the election of local officers, is thus recorded in the township book:

Agreebly to previous notice, by the commissioners of Coshocton county, the citizens of Adams township assembled at the house of Benjamin Headley, in said township, June 23, 1832, for the purpose of electing the necessary officers for said township, and, after being assembled, did proceed to elect, viva voce, three judges and two clerks, to hold said election, viz. : Thomas Powell. Joshua Wood and Benjamin Headley were apgointed judges, and Henry Delong and P. 8, ampbell, , clerks, who, after being duly sworn, did proceed to open and hold said election, agreeably to law; and, after carefully examining the poll books of said election, found that thirty votes had been given, and that the following persons were elected to the respective offices named, with their names, and did likewise proclaim them duly elected, in the presence of all the voters that were present at the close of said election :

The persons elected trustees were Thomas Powell, Joshua Wood and Archibald Leach; township clerk, P. S. Campbell ; constable, James C. Colson; treasurer, Richard Taylor; supervisors, William Curry, William Norris, Jr., and Thomas Powell, Jr. ; overseer of the poor, Benjamin Headley, and Vincent Dewitt; fence viewers, Robert Corbit and Leonard Hawk.

J. P. James was justice of the peace at the time the township was organized, having been elected previously from Oxford township. Patrick S. Campbell was the first justice elected in the new township, his commission dating May 23, 1833. He was successively elected seven times, holding the office until his death, December 4, 1852.

Lewis Corbit also has served the township in this capacity for a like number of terms. He was first elected in 1857, and served continuously until 1878. Other early justices were Thomas Powell, John Baker and James Jones.

The Indian villages that were situated in Coshocton county were invariably found in the valleys of the larger streams. Hence there were none in Adams township. Several small encampments, however, had a place within its limits. One which, according to the tradition of the earliest settlers, contained three wigwams, stood in the southwest quarter of section 9, close to the present residence of Lewis Corbit. It was located on the sandy knoll of ground across the road, a few rods southeast from the house. An open space of about an acre extended from the knoll to the spring, which gushes forth from the hillside close to the house. Quite a number of Indian relics have been found here, such as arrowheads, stone axes, etc. Mr. Corbit plowed up in this vicinity, over thirty years ago, an old gun barrel so rust-eaten as» to be scarcely recognizable. Another encampment of five wigwams stood southeast from this one, near the mouth of Indian Camp Run. Here the first white arrivals found a cleared space of several acres, with only one or two wild cherry trees growing upon it.

Deer licks were numerous throughout this region, and were places of frequent resort for the deer at morning and evening. This fact was well known to the hunters of that day, and turned to advantage by them. Instead of roaming the forest in search of game they would lie in wait for it here, A blind would be formed of bushes, behind which they would screen themselves from view, and as the deer unsuspiciously approached it could easily be covered and brought low by the unerring aim of the rifleman.

The earliest white occupants of the territory now embraced within the bounds of Adams township were mainly members of that migratory class which continually hover on the extreme frontier of an advancing civilization, white men who could not relinquish all intercourse with their race, yet wishing to rid themselves of the cares and duties of a settled country, preferred the free and easy life of a hunter, cultivating perhaps a little patch of corn, but subsisting chiefly upon the game which could always be had for the shooting. As this became scarce, through the influx of settlers, they would gather up their tents and silently steal away to the west beyond.

Prior to the war of 1812, there does not seem to have been any permanent settlement made here, though it was the transient home of several white men. A family named Mulford was the first known to occupy this territory. Mulford built a little cabin on what was afterward Robert Corbit's place, the southeast quarter of section 18, but remained only a few years, removing to Oxford township. William Sparks afterward occupied the same cabin, and was living in it in 1816. Another squatter named Murphy, much given to hunting, settled in the same locality very early; also. Remembrance and Elijah Williams. " Mem " was a notable hunter. They came several years before the war, and both moved west at a later day. Remembrance to Indiana and Elijah to Missouri. Aaron Shipley was another early occupant.

James Baker came with his family from Adams county, Pennsylvania, during the war of 1812. He did not become a property owner here, and subsequently emigrated to Arkansas. His son, John Baker, is still living, and is one of the oldest persons in the township. He was born January 25, 1796, came west with his father from Pennsylvania, and has always considered Adams township his home, though he has been a great traveler. In his younger days he was extremely fond of the chase, and spent much of his time with the Indians, whom he thinks were among his best friends. Mr. Baker was the founder of Bakersville, and has been one of the largest land owners in the township. His wife Ellen, a daughter of Robert Addy, also still survives. She was born May 20, 1800.

Robert Addy, a wild and daring spirit, came from the Virginia banks of the Potomac in 1804, and soon after settled on Will's creek, in Linton township. In 1815 or 1816, he moved to this township, settling in the southwest portion of section 12. He had been drafted in the war of 1812, a short time before its termination, and was on his way to the seat of war when news of peace was received.

to the Tuscarawas river in Oxford township, with Isaac Evans, in 1804. Not liking the country, he returned to Maryland, but soon after came west again with James Meskimen, of Linton township, and entered his employ, remaining sev^n, years and working for seven dollars a month during the summer, and often for his board in the winter. He then worked for Isaa,c Evans till the war of 1812 broke out. In one of the earliest drafts John Junkin, a brawny Irish settler on the river, and a man of considerable wealth for those days, drew the fatal ballot which consigned him to a place among the conscripts. Mr. Corbit went as his substitute and remained in the army two years, doing service at Fort Meigs. After his return, he remained with Isaac Evans till 1818, when he married Susan Fuller and settled on the southeast quarter of section 18. He possessed a keen relish for hunting which never cloyed. His dog and rifle were his inseparable companions, and it was not an uncommon occurrence for him to spend the entire night in the woods. He remained a life-long resident of this township, and died July 3, 1878, at the age of eighty-eight years.

Robert McFarland came about the same time. He was a Vfrginian and entered the northeast quarter of section 19. In his earlier days he was addicted to the then prevalent vice of intemperance, but he joined the Methodist church and entirely abandoned the use of ardent spirits. It is said that he placed a tempting flask of whisky upon the mantel-piece of his cabin, in plain view, where it remained untouched to the day of his death, which occurred years afterwards.

William Norris and James Jones settled here among the earliest. Both were Virginians ; the former entered the southeast quarter of section 23, the latter the northeast quarter of the same section. Mr. Norris enjoyed the distinction of being the father of twenty-one children. He died in the township at a good old age in 1841. Some of his descendents still live in this township. Mr. Jones was one of the leading citizens of his time. He was a strictly temperrate, church-going man and was one of the earliest justices. He removed to Benton county, Iowa, where he lived up to the time of his decease. Joshua and Benjamin Chance settled

Enos and Samuel Dean and John Norman were the earliest settlers in the western part of the township. They had been here sometime before the year 1816. Mr. Norman's father had located on the Tuscarawas river, and John moved up to the head of White Eyes creek very early. Enos Dean first pitched his cabin down by the creeli:, but not succeeding as he thought he should he built another cabin on a hill situated on F. W. Powell's upper farm west of the creek, with the expectation of doing better. This place, from this circumstance, was dubbed " Mount Hope," a name which clung to it for many years.

Jonathan Tipton soon after came from Harrison county, with a Mr. Kimble ; the latter settled in White Eyes township, and Tipton in the western part of Adams. The names of other settlers were James and William Poland, John Lemons and John Mizer.

Thomas Powell entered the township about 1819. He was an Englishman by birth, a merchant by occupation, and emigrated from his native land to Richmond, Virginia, and afterwards to Steubenville. He there leased the Campbell place, situated near the center of this township, in the northwestern quarter, and soon after moved upon it. He remained there about ten years; then purchased and settled upon a large tract of over a thousand acres in the southwestern portion of the township. His sons, Thomas and F. W., still reside upon it.

James Campbell moved to his property, vacated by the Powells, in 1831. He was originally from Pennsylvania but since 1802 had carried on a large tailoring establishment in Steubenville. He died September 23, 1845. Patrick S. Campbell, long a justice of the peace for this township, was a son. Hon. Thomas Campbell, of Coshocton, is another son.

Thomas Pinkerton emigrated from Pennsylvania about 1821 and settled upon lot 12, in the eastern part of the southwestern section, later known as the Jennings lot. He removed to Missouri. Somewhat later, John Rodney and George and John Walters arrived from Guernsey county. George subsequently returned there, and John continued on westward, to Knox county.

Edward McGarvey and Vincent Dewitt were two other early settlers in the western part of the township. The former was an Irishman, and by trade a weaver. He settled here about 1816. Dewitt came about 1825, from Muskingum county.

S. H. Loveless and Archibald Leach, both from Jefferson county, came together, in May, 1827, and entered the northwest quarter of section 10; Loveless the western half, and Leach the eastern. Both families are still represented in the township. About the time the Ohio canal was built, settlers began to arrive rapidly, and in a few years thereafter the land was all taken up.

Adams township contains the oldest person in the county. Mrs. Catherine Albert, residing in the northwestern part of the township has been a centenarian for several years. She is now supposed to be in her one hundred and fifth year. Originally from Pennsylvania she spent a good portion of her long life in eastern Ohio. She then came with her husband, John Albert, to Crawford township. They were among the earliest settlers there. About forty-five years ago she removed to this township and has resided here since. For one of her age she is a lady of remarkable activity.

Milling operations have nOt been' very extensive. A saw mill was erected by John Baker on Evans creek a mile or more south of Bakersville in 1834. It has since been in the ownership of Samuel Gorslin, Andrew Hock, Joseph Stonehocker and Samuel Werts. Sawing ceased there six or eight years ago and the mill has been torn down recently.

George Werts in 1837 or 1838 built a grist mill in what is now Bakersville. Several years before he had erected a saw mill at the same place. Mr. Werts sold the mill to Jacob Mizer. They were removed many years ago and the bridge now occupies the spot where they stood.

The whisky consumed in Adams township was chiefly of " foreign" manufacture. The only distillery known to have been operated here was owned by Joseph Duffee. It stood in the northern part of the township, and was operated for a few years only beginning about 1840.

side, near a spring on Robert Corbit's place. .Wells have been twice sunk here in search of the oil in paying quantities, but each time with ill success. It is often skimmed from the surface of the spring by the neighboring farmers and used by them for lubricating machinery. It is found to be a superior article for this purpose.

The earliest physician who settled in this township, of whom any account is had» was an eccentric, though talented, individual named Kellis Herd. He moved here about 1836, from Virginia, where he had been engaged in practice. While still in that State he lost three children by scarlet fever, and through his grief and disgust at his inability to save them he threw his medical works into the fire and determined to relinquish his profession forever, and it was rarely that his services could be brought into requisition. Only in a great emergency, as in the case of a broken limb, and under urgent solicitation, would he apply the medical knowledge of which he was master. He possessed great mechanical powers, which he was fond of exercising, and many were the devices which he invented. He owned a small tract of land in the northern part of section 12. Here, at Raccoon Spring, he constructed a diminutive over-shot water-wheel, which furnished the motive power for a turning lathe. He was fond of grafting fruit trees, and afterward started a nursery above Bakersville. He moved to Columbus, and later died at Cleveland while at work on one of his inventions.

The next resident practitioner was Dr. William Miller, who came from Pennsylvania. He remained here for five or six years, and then removed to Illinois. He is described as a clever little gentleman, always ready and attentive to his profession

Since Bakersville has been laid out, quite a number of physicians have, taken up their abode there. Dr. John Conoway was the first. He came from Harrison county, about 1850, and after a practice of six years sought a western field of labor in Iowa. He was succeeded in 1866 by Dr. R. C. Chapman, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and had read and practiced medicine in Tuscarawas county previous to his coming here. He remained a half score of years and returned to Tuscarawas county. Dr.. B. W. Chapman, his brother, came in 1866, and has since been in continual practice here. Two other physicians now reside in the village, Drs. E. P. Steward and G. W. Rice ; the former came about 1870, from Harrison county, the latter from Tuscarawas county, in 1880. The following physicians also have had a residence here : Drs. Maxwell, Michael Tolen, Michael Conoway, Samuel Gorsline, Isaac Busby and William Craven.

The first school-house in the township wasbuilt about 1825, on the southeast quarter of section 18, Robert Corbit's homestead. It was theusual log cabin, its dimensions about twentytwo feet square, built in the rough, rude style prevalent in pioneer times ; a puncheon floor,, paper window-panes, a huge fire-place occupying one entire end of the building, were some of the features of this, as of nearly every other school-house of that age. No portion of the lumber composing it was sawed. Perhaps the most finished piece of workmanship was the door. The split ash boards, from which it was made, had been shaved with a drawing knife to a tolerable degree of smoothness. The merest rudiments of an education could be obtained here at first. Reading and spelling often constituted the entire curriculum of study. Few of the earliest school-masters possessed a knowledge of arithmetic. School-books were rarities, and the few that could be coUecled were of a motley description. A single leaf sufficed Lewis Corbit during his first term at school. His father had but the one reader in his possession, and this an older sister of Lewis must have; she had attended school before, however, and had made some advancement, consequently the first leaf, containing the alphabet, could be spared. This was torn out and carfuUy pasted on a paddle for Lewis' use.

This was the only school held in the township for many years, and the attendance was accordingly very large at times. Among the families represented in the school may be mentioned the McFarlands, Evans, Richmonds, Norrises, Jones, Cor bits, Pinkertons, Powells, Delongs, Shays and Lemons, It was noted for the number of grownup young men who attended - great, strapping

John Berwick was the first teacher. He was succeeded by Thomas Pinkerton, one of the early settlers of the township. Henry Belong was probably the next teacher. He was of Welsh birth, and had been a glass-blower at Wellsburg, Virginia, for a number of years before coming here. He po^essed a fair education, and taught several terms. James Jones, another settler followed Belong. Though a strictly temperate man himself, one of the few who abstained entirely from the use of the popular beverage of the day, he could not avoid treating his scholars to the customary holiday allowance of two gallons of whisky. George Lemons and Thomas Campbell also taught here later. Until 1832, when the township was organized, there was probably but this one school within its limits. In that year, however, the trustees divided the township into three school districts ; the first beginning at the southeast corner of the township and ending at Robert Taylor's north line; the second beginning at Robert Taylor's north line and extending to the north line of the township ; the third comprising the western half of the township, the military line being the division between the east and west. This division would indicate that the eastern half of the township was more thickly settled at this time than the western half. Another district was soon after formed, and others as they became needed, until there were eight, the present number.

The religious advantages of the earliest settlers were as scanty as the educational. Religious services were first held at irregular periods by itinerant preachers, who visited this region for this purpose, or happened along by chance, as the case might be. The Methodists and Baptists were earliest in the field. Of the former denomination, Jabob Meek was among the foremost to conduct meetings, probably the first in the township. He was a farmer, living in Guernsey county, about six miles below Newcomerstown. He preached regularly once a month, either in the sch'bol-house or at Robert McFarland's house, beginning about 1826. These meetings led to the formation of the Taylor Methodist church a few years later. Jacob Mills was another early itinerant exhorter of this persuasion. He was a. homeless bachelor from Virginia, who had no disposition for manual labor, but traveled from place to place, and gladly exchanged his religious services for board and lodgment.

"William Spencer, a worthy farmer, residing somewhere in the western part of the county, is said to have been the pioneer propagator of gospel truth in behalf of the Baptist church. He was holding meetings at the school-house as early as 1828, and succeeded in gathering about him a cluster of Baptists which formed the nucleus of the Baptist congregation organized some years later.

The Methodist Episcopal church has always been the most vigorous denomination in this township. Of the four congregations now existing, three belong to this church. The oldest of these is the Taylor church, located in the southeastern part of the township. It was organized about 1832. Meetings were held for several years at the houses of its members and at the schoolhouse; then a hewed log church was built on the old Richard Taylor farm. Its early active members included the names of Richard Taylor, William Currie, S. H. Loveless, Thomas Hayes and Robert McFarland. In time the building became very much dilapidated, many members were removed by death, and others withdrew their membership and united with other Methodist societies which had in the meantime been established in various localities. These circumstances left the church in a very weak condition, and services were suspended for several years, then about ten years ago an effort was made to resuscitate the languishing organization. The present frame house of worship was erected on the site of the old church at an outlay of about $1,600, through the exertions of Ezekiel McFarland, S. M. Baugherty, Elias ^inds, Alexander Loveless and others. The reorganization was effected under the ministry of Rev. S. A. Thompson. Buring the first year it was connected with the Port Washington circuit; it was then attached to the Bakersville circuit, to which it still belongs. Buring the winter of 1877-78, under the pastorate of Rev. Philip Kelser, a revival was held which resulted in over forty accessions to the church-

Previously the membership had been very small, numbering not more than ten or twelve. It now amounts to about forty. A Sunday-school, at present superintended by Isacc Dewitt, is held during the summer, with a membership of fifty or sixty. The cemetery adjoining this church is the resting place of many of the earliest settlers of the township.

Wesley Chapel, another Methodist Episcopal church, is situated at Powell's Cross Roads, in the southwestern part of the township. The building was erected in 1860, at a cost of $2,000. It is a neat frame, thirty-two by forty-two feet in size. At the time of its construction. Rev. Benjamin Heskett was the pastor in charge. He conducted a revival about this time, which resulted in good to the congregation. He soon after enlisted in the service as captain of Company C of the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and fell at the battle of Stone River. The society was formed about 1843. The greater part of its members had been connected with a congregation at Evansburg and, when they deemed themselves of sufficient strength, separated from it and organized Wesley Chapel. Among the leading members, at the time, were James and John Powell, Thomas H. and Washington Powell, George, Isaac and Andrew Norman, John Sondels and J. R. Davis. John Powell was the first class-leader. The meetings were held in the Powell school-house until the church was built. The church was included in the Newcomerstown circuit, at first, but has since been joined to that of Bakersville. The present class-leaders are Washington Powell and Thomas Hamilton. The Sunday-school is a department of Christian work which has been conducted since the organization of the church.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Bakersville was organized about 1845. The earliest meetings were held at the house of Thomas Hayes. After Bakersville was laid out, the place of worship was transferred to the meeting-house in the village, which had been built by Leonard Hawk. Services were held here for five or six years, when the first church was built The present church was built in 1874, dedicated February 7, 1875. Stephen Loveless and Thomas Hayes were among the early members. The membership is now about sixty. Rev. T. J. Roberts is the pastor, A Sabbath-school was organized cotemporaneously with the church. It is now under the supervision of C. C. Hamilton, and is in a prosperous, healthy condition.

The Presbyterian church at Bakersville was organized April 23, 1833, by Rev. James Morrow, of New Philadelphia. Its first house of worship, a log church, stood on an elevated piece of ground one mile south of the village. The present neat, frame structure in Bakersville, was built in 1861. The'old church cemetery, near the first church, is still used as the church burial ground. During almost its entire history, this church has been associated with the Linton township church, having the same pastors, except in the case of Rev. John Moore, D. D. The early members were George Walters^ John Walters, James Jones, Mrs. Catharine Rodney, Robert Lyons, William Shannon, John Buck and Albert Pillows. The elders have been James Jones, George Walters, William Shannon, Robert Lyons, John Buck, David G. Miller, John Miller, William Hawk and Alexander Fenton. The last two constitute the present session. The number of communicants at this time is about fifty. The Sunday-school has been a living, active institution for many years. John Leach is its present superintendent.

Several church organizations have formerly had an existence in the township, that are now numbered with the dead. Among them was Evans' Creek Regular Baptist church, which was organized in 1845, with about twenty members. Joseph Whitaker, Josiah Tipton, Robert Corbit, John Lewis, John Camp, James Randies, Mr. Bechtal, Simon Porter and Samuel Camp, were the prominent members. In ten years the membership was about fifty. From that time the number begun to decrease, and in 1865 they ceased to be a church. They once had a house of worship, which was situated on Robert Corbit's place, but it, too, is gone. The ministers that furnished pastoral service to this church are as follows: R. R. Whitaker, J. G. Whitaker, A. W. Odor and J. W. Moreland.

-ciety lasted only about ten years. Its principal members were the Pinkertons - William, John, James, Thomas and Matthew - Jacob Norman and Jacob Powell.

A German Reform Church was organized at Bakersville very soon after the village was laid out. Its original membership was quite small, consisting of Philip Myser, Leonard Hawk, Teter Hawk, John Myser, Jacob Myser and perhaps a few others. For several years the society met in the building erected by Leonard Hawk for church purposes. It was then moved a mile or two north of the -village into Tuscarawas where it still exists. A Disciple congregation also worshipped in Leonard Hawk's church -during the same time the German Reform occupied it. They afterward held services tor ten or twelve years in private residences, iDut finally becoming too weak numerically to mLaintain an organization they disbanded. Rev. Armstrong was one of its earliest preachers. Thomas "Wert, the Dewitts, R. C. Chaplin, Mr. and Mr. Carnahan were early members.

A' Weinbrenner organization, too, is numbered among the defunct religious societies of this township. It never attained to any considerable strength and lived but ten or twelve years, having been organized about 1836. Its principal members were Samuel Camp, Thomas Cordry, Vincent Dewitt and James Johnson. During 3)leasant weather services were often held in the forest groves, where the shouting proclivities of some of the members succeeded in attracting large audiences to their meetings. At other times the meeting were held at private houses, no church building ever having been erected. Revs. Beidler, Keller and Logue ministered to this congregation.

Bakersville, the sole village of the township, containing several hundred inhabitants, has a very pretty location in the little valley of Evans creek, in the northeastern part of the township. It V, as laid out in the spring of 1848, by John Baker; Lane Baker- surveying the plat. A vilr lage was apparently wanted in this neighborhood, iot it grew rapidly at first. A solitary log cabin had previously occupied the village site, standing -close to the place now occupied by Joseph Mizer's stable. The first building was erected by Leonard Hawk. It is still standing, occupied at present as a dwelling house by C. Smith. It was built for a church and was used in part for this purpose for several years. One end of the building, however, was occupied by Leonard Hawk and Samuel Ferdic as a store-room, the first in the place.

A select school was begun soon after the village was laid out, and continued two winters. It was held in a room rented for the purpose. Lewis Travus and James Dunlap were the teach-- ers. A stone school-house was then erected, and the youth of the village instructed therein for seven or eight years, when the foundation sank a little and the building was adjudged unsafe. It was removed and the frame which now subserves the purposes of education placed in its stead. It contains two rooms, both of which are occupied.

The 'first and only postoffice in the township was established at Bakers^ville, by the appointment of Stephen H. Loveless, postmaster, soon after the village was laid out. The appointinent is now held by Dr. E. P. Steward.

A summary of the present business is as follows: Dry goods - John H. Loveless, C. C. Hamilton and Mizer Brothers. Joseph Ripple has a grocery. There are three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two cabinet and three shoe shops. A woolen factory has been in operation about six years. It was built by the Bakersville Woolen Mill Company, consisting of H. J. Stonebrook, John W. Peairs, James A. Mizer and Jacob Miller. Mr. Stonebrook now has entire possession of it. It is worked during the summer only, and produces a large quantity of woolen goods. A steam grist and saw mill is located here. It was erected six or eight years ago, and is o-vmed by Levi Millfer. The grist mill has three run of buhrs, is run steadily and does a good business

Bakersville Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, No. 79, is the only lodge of this order now existing in the county. It was organized December 7, 1874, with twenty-two charter members. Its first officers were: Martin Kugler, Chancellor Commander; B. W. Chapman, Vice Chancellor Commander; A. A. Peairs, Prelate; A. B. Martin, Past Chancellor; Joseph Mizer, Master at Arms;

J. H. Loveless, Master of Exchequer ; Levi Miller, Master of Finance; J. H. Stonebrook, Keeper of Records and Seals. The present membership is twenty-four. At one time there were fortymembers, but removals have reduced the number. Only one death has occurred in the lodge since its organization, that of Martin Kugler.

Bakersville Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, No. 564, was organized September 4, 1877, with twenty-seven charter members. Within one week of the date of organization 104 names were enrolled as members. Its first elected officers were as follows: A. A. Peairs,

The land which forms this township was a portion of Newcastle township until 1825, at which time it was organized by act of commissioners into a separate township. The organization was completed by the election of township officers at the house of Henry Haines. It is not known to a certainty who these officers were, as the records of the election are not known to exist, but William McCoy, Herman Anderson and John Mc- Nabb are supposed to have been the first trus-

Source changes here: from History of Coshocton County, Ohio;, by Hill, Norman Newell, Jr., [from Old Catalog] Comp, published 1881; 5,799 words in this source stream.

Adams Township

ADAMS township is situated in the eastern part of the county. On the north and east it touches Tuscarawas county, Oxford township on the south and White Eyes on the west. The surface is hilly throughout though not to a degree depriving the land of value for agricultural purposes. The soil is, for the most part, argillaceous or clayey. Some of the hills, however, are covered with a sandy loam. It is productive, yielding abundant harvests of corn and wheat, the principal crops grown. The highest land lies in the northern part. Here are the head waters of two streams which flow in a southerly direction draining the entire surface of the township. The more easterly of the two, Evans creek, passes through Oxford township on the south and soon after mingles its waters with those of the winding Tuscarawas. The other, called the East Fork of White Eyes creek, bends to the northwest when near the southern limit of the township and enters White Eyes township. The numerous little brooks that feed these streams, trickling through nearly every dale, attest the existence of many fine springs.

The township is five miles square in area, consisting of the sixth township in the fourth range of the United States military district. The eastern half was congress land, which was* surveyed into sections of one mile square by Alexander Holmes, in the year 1803. The western half was composed of two military sections of 4,000 acres each. In 1800 military land could be entered only in tracts of 4,000 acres, and it sometimes occurred that a number of persons, each holding an insufficient number of warrants to enter a whole section, would unite their several claims for this purpose, afterward dividing the section among themselves, in proportion to the amount of each one's warrants, Tiius it was with both of these sections. The northern one, constituting the northwest quarter of the township, was entered by a company of ten individuals as follows: Jesse and Abijah Hunt, of Hamilton county, holding warrants for 1 ,500 acres ; Ephraim True, with warrants for GOO hundred acres; James Percival, of Connecticut, for 500 ; Lewis Morris, of Charleston, South Carolina, for 400; Joseph Loveland, of Fairfield county, for 300; Joseph Lockland, for 300, and four others, Henry Eoss, of Washington county; John Buel, major in the army ; Stephen Smith and Christopher Hamel, for 100 acres each. The section was located and surveyed for the company by John Matthews, he receiving in compensation for his services the onetenth part, or 400 acres. The other section, forming the southwest quarter of the townsliip, was located for a company of ;\Iarylanders, of whom Rezin Davis and O. H. Williams were the most extensive shareholders, the two owning more than the one-half of the section. S. Herbert, Jacob S. Towson, Richard Pindall, W. VanLear and P. Thomas had lesser amounts. The land in these two sections was not placed in the market for many years, and, as the owners were non-res- idents, the settlement of this portion of the township was somewhat retarded. The few pioneers who settled here, did so without title to the soil, and were obliged to abandon their cabins when the legal holders put in their appearance, if they had not already' done so.

Upon the formation of Oxford township, in the fall of 1811, that territory was embraced in its limits which now constitutes Adams township. In 1823, when White Eyes township was organized, the northwestern quarter of what is now Adams township was taken from O.xford, and made a part of the new township. In 1832, the county commissioners ordered the establishment of Adams township, as it now exists. The completion of the organization, by the election of local officers, is thus recorded in the township book:

Agreebly to previous notice, by the commissioners of Coshocton county, the citizens of Adams township assembled at the house of Benjamin Headley, in said township, June 23, 1832, for the purpose of electing the necessary officers for said township, and, after being assembled, did proceed to elect, vioa voce, three judges and two clerks, to hold said election, viz. : Thomas Powell. Joshua Wood and Benjamin Headley were appointed judges, and Henry Belong and P. S, Campbell, clerks, who, after being duly sworn, did proceed to open and hold said election, agreeably to law; and, after carefully examining the poll books of said election, found that thirty votes had been given, and that the following persons were elected to the respective offices named, with their names, and did likewise proclaim them duly elected, in the presence of all the voters that were present at the close of said election :

The persons elected trustees were Thomas Powell, Joshua Wood and Archibald Leach; township clerk, P. S. Campbell; constable, James C. Colson; treasurer, Richard Taylor; supervisors, William Curry, William Norris, Jr., and Thomas Powell, Jr.; overseer of the poor, Benjamin Headley, and Vincent Dewitt; fence viewers, Robert Corbit and Leonard Hav.'k.

J. P. James was justice of the peace at the time the township was organized, having been elected previously from Oxford township. Patrick S. Campbell was the first justice elected in the new township, his commission dating May 23, 1833. He was successively elected seven times, holding the office until his death, December 4, 1852.

Lewis Corbit also has served the township in this capacity for a like number of terms. He was first elected in 1857, and served continuously until 1878. Other early justices were Thomas Powell, John Baker and James Jones.

The Indian villages that were situated in Coshocton county were invariably found in the valleys of the larger streams. Hence there were none in Adams township. Several small encampments, however, had a place within its limits. One which, according to the tradition of the earliest settlers, contained three wigwams, stood in the southwest quarter of section 9, close to the present residence of Lewis Corbit. It was located on the sandy knoll of ground across the road, a few rods southeast from the house. An open space of about an acre extended from the knoll to the spring, which gushes forth from the hillside close to the house. Quite a number of Indian relics have been found here, such as arrowheads, stone axes, etc. Mr. Corbit plowed up in this vicinity, over thirty years ago, an old gun barrel so rust-eaten as to be scarcely recognizable. Another encampment of five wigwams stood southeast from this one, near the mouth of Indian Camp Run. Here the first white arrivals found a cleared space of several acres, with only one or two wild cherry trees growing upon it.

Deer licks were numerous throughout this region, and were places of frequent resort for the deer at morning and evening. This fact was well known to the hunters of that day, and turned to advantage by them. Instead of roaming the forest in search of game they would lie in wait for it here. A blind would be formed of bushes, behind which they would screen themselves from view, and as the deer unsuspiciously approached it could easily be covered and brought low by the unerring aim of the rifleman.

The earliest white occupants of the territory now embraced within the bounds of Adams township were mainly members of that migratory class which continually hover on the extreme frontier of an advancing civilization, white men who could not relinquish all intercourse with their race, yet wishing to rid themselves of the cares and duties of a settled country, preferred the free and easj' life of a hunter, cultivating perhaps a little patch of corn, but subsisting chiefly upon the game which could always be had for the shooting. As this became scarce, through the influ.x of settlers, they would gather up their tents and silently steal away to the west beyond.

Prior to the war of 1812, there docs not seem to hav#bcen anj' permanent settlement made here, though it was the transient home of several white m.en. A family named Mulford was the first known to occupy this territory. Mulford built a little cabin on what was afterward Robert Corbit's -place, the southeast quarter of section 18, but remained only a few years, removing to Oxford township. Williani Sparks afterward occupied the same cabin, and was living in it in 1816. Another squatter named Murphy, much given to hunting, settled in the same locality very early; also. Remembrance and Elijah Williams. " Mem" was a notable hunter. They came several years before the war, and both moved west at a later day. Remembrance to Indiana and P^lijali to Missouri. Aaron Shipley was another early occupant.

James Baker came with his family from Adams county, Pfinnsylvania, during the war of 1812. He did not become a property owner here, and subsequently emigrated to Arkansas. His son, John Baker, is still living, and is one of the oldest persons in the township. He was born January 25, 1796, came west with his father from Pennsylvania, and has always considered Adams township his home, though he has been a great traveler. In his younger days he was extremely fond of the chase, and spent much of his time with the Indians, whom he thinks were among his best friends. Mr. Baker was the founder of Bakersville, and has been one of the largest land owners in the township. His wife Ellen, a daughter of Robert Addy, also still survives. She was born May 20, 1800.

Robert Addy, a wild and daring spirit, came from the Virginia banks of the Potomac in 18t)4, and soon after settled on Will's creek, in Linton township. In 1815 or 1816, he moved to this township, settling in the southwest portion of section 12. He had been drafted in the war of 1812, a short time before its termination, and was on his way to the seat of war when news of peace was received.

to the Tuscarawas river in O.xford township, with Isaac Evans, in 1804. Not liking the country, he returned to Maryland, but soon after came west again with James Meskimen, of Linton township, and entered his employ, remaining seven years and working for seven dollars a month during the summer, and often for his board in the winter. He then worked for Isiuic Evans till the war of 1812 broke out. In one of the earliest drafts John Junkin, a brawny Irish settler on the river, and a man of considerable wealth for those days, drew the fatal ballot which consigned him to a place among the conscrii)ts. Mr. Corbit went as his substitute and remained in the army two years, doing service at Fort Meigs. After his return, he remained with Isaac Evans till 1818, when he married Susan Fuller and settled on the southeast quarter of section 18. He possessed a keen relish for hunting which never cloyed. His dog and rifle were his inseparable companions, and it was not an uncommon occurrence for him to spend the entire night in the woods. He remained a life-long resident of this township, and died July 3, 1878, at the age of eighty-eight years.

Robert McFarland came about the same time. He was a Vfrginian and entered the northeast quarter of section 19. In his earlier days he was addicted to the then prevalent vice of intemperance, but he joined the Methodist church and entirely abandoned the use of ardent spirits. It is said that he placed a tempting flask of whisky upon the mantel-piece of his cabin, in plain view, where it remained untouched to the day of his death, which occurred years afterwards.

William Norris and James Jones settled here among the earliest. Both were Virginians; the former entered the southeast quarter of section 23, the latter the northeast quarter of the same section. Mr. Norris enjoyed the distinction of being the father of twenty-one children. He died in the township at a good old age in 1841. Some of his descendents still live in this township. Mr. Jones was one of the leading citizens of his time. He was a strictly temperrate, church-going man and was one of the earliest justices. He removed to Benton county, Iowa, where he lived up to the time of his decease. Joshua and Benjamin Chance settled

Enos and Samuel Dean and John Norman were the earliest settlers in the western part of the township. They had been here sometime before the year 1816. Mr. Norman's father had located on the Tuscarawas river, and John moved up to the head of White Eyes creek very early. Enos Dean first pitched his cabin down by the creek, but not succeeding as he thought he should he built another cabin on a hill situated on F. W. Powell's upper farm west of the creek, with the expectation of doing better. This place, from this circumstance, was dubbed "Mount Hope," a name which clung to it for many years.

Jonathan Tipton soon after came from Harrison county, with a Mr. Kimble; the latter settled in White Eyes township, and Tipton in the western part of Adams. The names of other settlers were James and William Poland, John Lemons and John Mizer.

Thomas Powell entered the township about 1819. He was an Englishman by birth, a merchant by occupation, and emigrated from his native land to Richmond, Virginia, and afterwards to Steubenville. He there leased the Campbell place, situated near the center of this township, in the northwestern quarter, and soon after moved upon it. He remained there about ten years ; then purchased and settled upon a large tract of over a thousand acres in the southwestern portion of the township. His sons, Thomas and F. W., still reside upon it.

James Campbell moved to his property, vacated by the Powells, in 1831. He was originally from Pennsylvania, but since 1802 had carried on a large tailoring establishment in Steubenville. He died September 2.3, 1845. Patrick S. Campbell, long a justice of the peace for this township, was a son. Hon. Thomas Campbell, of Coshocton, is another .son.

Thomas Pinkerton emigrated from Pennsylvania about 1821 and settled upon lot 12, in the eastern part of the southwestern section, later known as the Jennings lot. He removed to Mi.ssouri. Somewhat later, John Rodney and George and John Walters arrived from Guernsey county. George subsequently returned there, and John continued on westward, to Knox county.

Edward McGarvej' and Vincent Dewitt were two other early settlers in the western part of the township. The former was an Irishman, and by trade a weaver. He settled here about 1816. Dewitt came about 182-5, from Sluskincum county.

S. H. Loveless and Archibald Leach, both from Jefferson county, came together, in May, 1827, and entered the northwest quarter of section 10; Loveless the western half, and Leach the eastern. Both families are still represented in the township. About the time the Ohio canal was built, settlers began to arrive rapidly, and in a few years thereafter the land was all taken up.

Adams township contains the oldest person in the county. Mrs. Catherine Albert, residing in the northwestern part of the township has been a centenarian for several years. She is now supposed to be in her one hundred and fifth year. Originally from Pennsylvania she spent a good portion of her long life in eastern Ohio. She then came with her husband, John Albert, to Crawford townsliip. The}- were among the earliest settlers there. About forty-five years ago she removed to this township and has resided here since. For one of her age she is a lady of remarkable activity.

Milling operations have not been very extensive. A saw mill was erected by John Baker on Evans creek a mile or more south of Bakcrsville in 18.34. It has since been in the ownership of Samuel Gorslin, Andrew Hock, Joseph Stonehocker and Samuel Werts. Sawing ceased there six or eight years ago and the mill has been torn down recently.

George Werts in 1837 or 1838 built a grist mill in what is now Bakersville. Several years before he had erected a saw mill at the same place. Sir. Werts sold the mill to Jacob Mizer. They were removed many years ago and the bridge now occupies the spot where they stood.

The whisky consumed in Adams township was chiefly of " foreign " manufacture. The only distillery known to have been operated here was owned by Joseph Duftee. It stood in the northern part of the township, and was operated for a few years only beginning about 1840.

side, near a spring on Robert Corbit's place. Wells have been twice sunk here in search of the oil in paying quantities, but each time with ill success. It is often skimmed from the surface of the spring by the neigliboring farmers and used by them for lubricating machinery. It is found to be a superior article for this purpose.

The earliest physician who settled in this township, of whom any account is had, was an eccentric, though tiilented, individual named Kellis Hord. He moved here about 1S36, from Virginia, where he had been engaged in practice. While still in that State he lost three children by scarlet fever, and through his grief and disgust at his inability to save them he threw his medical works into the lire and determined to relinquish his profession forever, and it was rarely that his services could be brought into requisition. Only in a great emergency, as in the case of a broken limb, and under urgent solicitation, would he apply the medical knowledge of which he was master. He possessed great mechanical powers, which he was fond of exercising, and many were the devices which he invented. He owned a small tract of land in the northern part of section 12. Here, at Raccoon Spring, he constructed a diminutive over-shot water-wheel, which furnished the motive power for a turning lathe. He was fond of grafting fruit trees, and afterward started a nursery above Balcersville. He moved to Columbus, and later died at Cleveland while at work on one of his inventions.

The ne.xt resident practitioner was Dr. William Miller, who came from Pennsylvania. He remained here for five or six years, and then removed to Illinois. He is described as a clever little gentleman, always ready and attentive to his profession

Since Bakersville h;vs been laid out, quite a number of physicians have taken up their abode there. Dr. John Conoway was the first. He came from Harrison county, about 1850, and after a practice of six years sought a western field of labor in Iowa. He was succeeded in 185G by Dr. R. C. Chapman, who was born in Washington county. Pennsylvania, and had read and practiced medicine in Tuscarawas county previous to his coming here. He remained a half score of years and returned to Tuscarawas county. Dr. B. W. Chapman, his brother, came in 1866, and has since been in continual practice here. Two other physicians now reside in the village, Drs, E. P. Steward and G. W. Rice; the former came about 1870, from Harrison county, the latter from Tuscarawas county, in 1880. The following physicians also have had a residence here: Drs. Maxwell, Michael Tolen, Michael Conoway, Samuel Gorsline, Isaac Busby and William Craven.

The first school-house in the township was built about 1825, on the southeast quarter of section 18, Robert Corbit's homestead. It was the usual log cabin, its dimensions about twentytwo feet square, built in the rough, ruile style prevalent in pioneer times ; a puncheon floor, paper window-panes, a huge lire-place occupying one entire end of the building, were some of the features of this, as of nearly every other school-house of that age. No portion of the lumber composing it was sawed. Perhaps the most finished piece of workmanship was the door. The split, ash boards, from which it was made,, had been shaved with a drawing knife to a tolerable degree of smoothness. The merest rudiments of an education could be obtained here at first. Reading and spelling often constituted the entire curriculum of study. Few of the earliest school-masters possessed a knowledge of arithmetic. School-books were rarities, and the few that could be collecled were of a motley description. A single leaf sufficed Lewis Corbit during his first term at school. His father had but the one reader in his possession, and this an older sister of Lewis must have ; she had attended school before, howev#r, and had made stmie advancement, consequently the first leaf, containing the alphabet, could be spared. This was torn out and carfully pasted on a paddle for Lewis' use.

This was the only school held in the township for many years, and the attendance was accordingly very large at times. Among the families represented in the school may be mentioned the McFarlands, Evans, Richmonds, Norriscs, Jones, Corbits, Pinkertons, Powells, Dclongs, Shays and Lemons. It was noted for the number of grownup young men who attended - great, strapping

John Berwick was the first teacher. He was succeeded b.y Thomas Pinkerton, one of the early settlers of the township. Henry Belong was probably the next teacher. He was of Welsh birth, and had been a glass-blower at Wellsburg, Virginia, for a number of years before coming here. He possessed a fair education, and taught several terms. James Jones, another settler followed Belong. Though a strictly temperate man himself, one of the few who abstained entirely from the use of the popular beverage of the day, he could not avoid treating his scholars to the customary holiday allowance of two gallons of whisky. George Lemons and Thomas Campbell also taught here later. Until 1832, when the township was organized, there was probably but this one school within its limits. In that year, however, the trustees divided the township into three school districts; the first beginning at the southeast corner of the township and ending at Kobert Taylor's north line; the second beginning at Robert Taylor's north line and e.'stending to the north line of the township; the third comprising the western half of the township, the military line being the division between the east and west. This division wonld indicate that the eastern half of the township was more thickly settled at this time than the western half. Another district was soon after formed, and others as they became needed, until there were eight, the present number.

The religious advantages of the earliest settlers were as scanty as the educational. Religious services were first held at irregular periods by itinerant preachers, who visited this region for this purpose, or hajiijened along by chance, as the case might be. The Methodists and Baptists were earliest in the field. Of the former denomination, Jabob Meek was among the foremost to conduct meetings, probably the first in the township. He was a farmer, living in Guernsey county, about six miles below Newcomerstown. He preached regularl_v once a month, either in the school-house or at Robert McFnrland's house, beginning about 1820. These meetings led to the formation of the Taylor Methodist church a few years later. Jacob Mills was another early itinerant exhorter of this persuasion. He w;is a homeless bachelor from Virginia, who had no disposition for manual labor, but traveled from place to place, and gladly exchanged his religious services for board anfl lodgment.

William Spencer, a worthy farmer, residing somewhere in the western part of the county, is said to have been the pioneer propagator of gospel truth in behalf of the Baptist church. He was holding meetings at the school-house as early as 182S, and succeeded in gathering about him a cluster of Baptists which formed the nucleus of the B.iptist congregation organized some years later.

The Methodist Episcopal church has always been the most vigorous denomination in this township. Of the four congregations now existing, three belong to this church. The oldest of these is the Taylor church, located in the southeastern part of the township. It was organized about 1832. Meetings were held for several years at the houses of its members and at the schoolhouse; then a hewed log church was built on the old Richard Taylor farm. Its early active members included the names of Richard Taylor, William Currie, S. H. Loveless, Thomas Hayes and Robert McFarland. In time the building became very much dilapidated, many members were removed by death, and others ^vithdrew their membership and imited with other Methodist societies which had in the meantime been established in various localities. These circumstances left the church in a very weak condition, and services were suspended for several years, then about ten years ago an efi'ort was made to resuscitate the languishing organization. Tiie present frame house of worship was erected on the site of the old church at an outlay of about $1,600, through the exertions of Ezekiel McFarland, 8. M. Dangherty, Elias Hinds, Alexander Loveless and others. The reorganization was efl'ected under the ministry of Rev. S. A. Thompson. During the first year it was connected with the Port Washington circuit; it was then attached to the Bakersville circuit, to which it still belongs. During the winter of 1877-78, under the pastorale of Rev. Philip KeLser, a revival was held which resulted in over forlv accessions to the church-

Previously the menibershiji h:id been very sniiiU, numbering not more than ten or twelve. It now amounts to about forty. A Sunday-school, at present .superintended by Isaco Dewitt, is held during the summer, with a membership of fifty or sixty. The cemetery adjoining this church is the resting place of many of the earliest settlers of the township.

Wesley Chapel, another Methodist Episcopal church, is situated at Powell's Cross Roads, in the southwestern jiart of the townshiji. The building was erected in 18G0, at a cost of S2,0U0. It is a neat frame, thirty-two by forty-two feet in size. At the time of its construction. Rev. Benjamin Heskett was the pastor in charge. He conducted a revival about this time, which resulted in good to the congregation. He soon after enlisted in the service as captain of Company C of the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and fell at the battle of Stone River. The society was formed about 1843. The greater part of its members had been connected with a congregation at Evansburgand, when they deemed themselves of sufficient strength, separated from it and organized Wesley Chapel. Among the leading members, at the time, were James and John Powell, Thomas H. and Washington Powell, George, Isaac and Andrew Norman, John Sondels and J. R. Davis. John Powell was the first cla-ss-leader. The meetings were held in the Powell school-house until the churdi \va.s built. The church was included in the Newcomerstown circuit, at first, but luis since been joined to that of Bakersville. The present class-leaders are Washington Powell and Thomas Hamilton. The Sunday-school is a department of Christian work which has been conducted since the organization of the church.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Bakersville was organized about 1845. The earliest meetings were held at the liouse of Thomas Hayes. .-\fter Bakersville was laid out, (he place of worship was transferred to the meeting-house in the village, which had been built by Leonard Hawk. Services were held here for five or six years, when the first church was built The present church was built in 1874, dedicated February 7, .1875. Stephen Loveless and Thomas Hayes were among the early members. The membership is now about sixty. Rev. T.J. Roberts is the pastor. A Sabbath-school was organized cotemporaneously with the church. It is now under the supervision of C. C. Hamilton, and is in a prosperous, healthj' condition.

The Presbyterian church at Bakersville was organized April 2.3, 1833, by Rev. James Morrow, of New Philadelphia. Its first house of worship, a log church, stood on an elevated piece of ground one mile south of the village. The present neat, frame structure in Bakersville, was built in 1861. The old church cemetery, ne.ar the first church, is still used as the church burial ground. During almost its entire history, this church has been associated with the Linton town.ship church, having the same pastors, except in the case of Rev. John Moore, D. D. The early members were George Walters, John Walters, James Jones, Mrs. Catharine Rodney, Robert Lyons, William Shannon, John Buck and Albert Pillows. The elders have been James Jones, George Walters, William Shannon, Robert Lyons, John Buck, David G. Miller, John Miller, William Hawk and Alexander Fenton. The last two constitute the present session. The number of communicants at this time is about fifty. The Sunday-school has been a living, active institution for many years. John Leach is its present superintendent.

Several church organizations have formerly had an existence in the township, that are now numbered with the dead. Among them was Evans' Creek Regular Baptist church, which was organized in 1845, with about twenty members. Joseph Whitaker, Josiah Tipton, Robert Corbit, John Lewis, John Camp, James Randies, Mr. Bechtal, Simon Porter and Samuel Camp, were the prominent members. In ten 3'ears the membership was about fifty. From that time the number begun to decrease, and in 1865 they ceased to be a church. They once had a house of worship, which was situated on Robert Corbit's place, but it, too, is gone. The ministers that furnished pastoral service to this church are as follows: R. R. Whitaker, J. G. Whitaker, A. W. Odor and J. W. Moreland.

lasted only about ten years. Its prinoijial member.^ were the Pinkertons - William, John, James, Thomas and Matthew - Jacob Norman and Jacob Powell.

A German Reform Church was organized at Bakersville very soon after the village was laid out. Its original membership was quite small, consisting of Philip Myser, Leonard Hawk, Peter Hawk, John Myser, Jacob Myser and perhaps a few others. For several years the society met in the building erected by Leonard Hawk for church purposes. It was then moved a mile or two north of the village into Tuscarawas county where it still exists. A Disciple congregation also worshipped in Leonard Hawk's church during the same time the German Reform Church occupied it. They afterward held services for ten or twelve years in private residences, but finally becoming too weak numerically to maintain an organization they disbanded. Rev. Armstrong was one of its earliest preachers. Thomas Wert, the Dewitts, R. C. Chaplin, Mr. Shores and Nr. Carnahan were early members.

A Weinbrenner organization, too, is numbered among the defunct religious societies of this township. It never attained to any considerable strength and lived but ten or twelve years, having been organized about 1836. Its principal members were Samuel Camp, Thomas Cordry, Vincent Dewitt and James Johnson. During pleasant weather services were often held in the forest groves, where the shouting proclivities of some of the members succeeded in attracting large audiences to their meetings. At other times the meeting were held at private houses, no church building ever having been erected. Revs. Beidler, Keller and Logue ministered to this congregation.

Bakersville, the sole village of the township, containing several hundred inhabitants, has a very pretty location in the little valley of Evans creek, in the northeastern part of the township. It -nas laid out in the spring of 1848, by John Baker; Lane Baker surveying the plat. A village was apparently wanted in this neighborhood, for it grew rapidly at first. A solitary log cabin had previously occupied the village site, standing close to the place now occupied by Joseph Mizor's stable. The first building was erected by Leonard Hawk. It is still standing, occupied at present as a dwelling house by C. Smith. It was built for a church and was used in part for this purpose for several years. One end of the building, however, was occupied by Leonard Hawk and Samuel Ferdic a.s a store-room, the first in the place.

A select school was begun soon after the village was laid out, and continued two winters. It was held in a room rented for the purpose. Lewis Travus and James Dunlap were the teachers. A stone school-house w'as then erected, and the youth of the village instructed therein for seven or eight years, when the foundation sank a little and the building was adjudged unsafe. It was removed and the frame which now subserves the purposes of education placed in its stead. It contains two rooms, both of which are occupied.

The first and only postoffice in the township was established at Bakersville, by the appointment of Stephen H. Loveless, postmaster, soon after the village was laid out. The appointment is now held by Dr. E. P. Steward.

A summary of the present business is as follows: Dry goods - John H. Loveless, C. C. Hamilton and Mizer Brothers. Joseph Ripple has a grocery. There are three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two cabinet and three shoe shops. A woolen factory has been in operation about six years. It was built by the Bakersville Woolen Mill Company, consisting of H. J. Stonebrook, John W. Peairs, James A. Mizer and Jacob Miller Mr. Stonebrook now has entire possession of it. It is worked during the summer only, and produces a large quantity of woolen goods. A steam grist and saw mill is located here. It was erected si.x or eight years ago, and is owned by Levi Miller. The grist mill has three run of buhrs, is run steadily and does a good business

Bakersville Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, No. 79, is the only lodge of this order now existing in the county. It was organized December 7, 1874, with twenty-two charter members. Its first officers were: Martin Kugler, Chancellor Commander; B. W. Chapman, Vice Chancellor Commander; A. A. Peairs, Prelate; A.B.Martin, Past Chancellor; Joseph Mizer, Master at Arms;

J. H. Loveless, Master of Exchequer ; Levi Miller, Master of Finance; J. H. Stonebrook, Keeper of Records and Seals. The present membership is twenty-four. At one time there were forty members, but removals have reduced the num- "ber. Only one death has occurred in the lodge since its organization, that of Martin Kugler.

Bakersville Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, No. 564, was organized September 4, 1877, with twenty-seven charter members. Within one week of the date of organization 101 names were enrolled as members. Its first elected oflicers were as follows: A. A. Peairs, Worthy Chief; Mrs. Kate Chapman, Worthy Vice Chief; Levi Miller, Worthy Chaplain; Edward Corbit, Past Worthy Chief; Isaac Carnahan, Secretary; E. P. Steward, Treasurer; J. Stonebrook, Financial Secretary ; D. L. C. Wood, Marshal; Allie Peairs, Deputy Mar.shal. The active membership now amounts to about fifty.