Adams Township

Adams Township

But who the melodies of morn ean tell? The wild brook babbling down the mountain side; The lowing herd, the sheep fold's simple bell ; The pipe of early shepherd dim descried, In the lone valley; echoing far and wide, The clamorous horn along the cliffs above; The hollow murmur of the ocean tide, The hum of hees, the linnet's lay of love, And the full choir that wakes the universal grove?"

**Ye pioneer." enamored with the music of the babbling stream, or the feathered songsters overhead. had no temptation for the formalities of lite, beyond the needful duties of the field and home, and passing his life as a soliloquy, ever formulating a dream ful similitude to natures artless arts, 'deigned not to record the doings of either: and hence the absence of any chronicle and Hugh Ballentine. They settled on Wills Creek, in the northeast corner of the present township of Adams, about 1810. It is thought that Benjamin Whitabury, with his step-sons, John and William Campbell, came about the same time. Abraham Wisecarver came and located on the northwest quarter of section eighteen, about 1814. Caleb Bedwell, Samuel Monroe, Robert Osborn and William Barton, are remembered as early settlers.

Valentine Shirer, from Pennsylvania, settled on the northwest quarter of section sixteen, in the year 1817, and Anthony Slater settled on the northeast quarter of section twenty-one, in 1818. These are the oldest citizens living.

The most important event that aided 'in the settlement of the township, was a public road. The first road cut through Adams township, was from the settlement on Symmes' Creek to Otsego, in Monroe township. James Sprague and sons cut this road, in 1812. The next was aroad surveyed from Cambridge, in Guernsey county, to the salt works at the mouth of Will's Creek, that ran through Adams township. This was in 1818. And another, from the vicinity of the locality now occupied by Adamsville, to Marquand's Mill, about 1820.

The first school house stood on land belonging to Emanuel Minnick, near the site occupied by the town house of to-day. The first teacher was William Jennison, from New England, who taught school here in 1820. He was succeeded by Thomas Barclay. There are now four schools in the township. The-school houses are all frame and in good condition, supplied according to the custom of our common school system.

The First Blacksmith The Formation Of The Townsiiip

''A petition was presented by Caleb Jordan. signed by a number of citizens of Madison and setting forth that they labor under many difficulties and disadvantages in consequence of the distance they have to. travel to set off of part of Monroe and Madison townships. and the Commissioners believing the prayer of the petitioners necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and township officers. do h eae order a new township, to be set off according t the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning i the northeast corner of Salem tow nship | line, and running thence west along said line to the northwest corner of said township, thence north to , Coshocton county line, thence east to the north- west corner of the original survey of township number three, in the fifth range, thence south to the place of beginning ; comprising the original surveyed township number three, in the sixth range, Military Land, which shall constitute a new township, to be called Adams township. Also ordered by the Commissioners, that an election be held at the house of Caleb Jordan, Esq., on the ist day of January next, being January Ist, 1827, to elect township officers for the township.

Accordingly, the voters congregated at the house of Caleb Jordan, which was on the southeast quarter of section fourteen, and elected, viva voce, a full setof officers, except Justices of the Peace. Caleb Jordan was, at that time, Justice of the Peace in Madison, and Anthony Slater, Justice in Monroe, (both included in the new township). ,

This election, however, was declared null, as ''ozva voce' was not the legal mode of voting, and a new election was ordered. 'The place appointed was the house of John Campbell, on the northwest quarter of section eighteen, near the present town house,.to take place on the 2d day of April, 1827. James Wilcox, Anthony Slater and Jesse Roe, were appointed Judges of election, and Caleb Jordan, Clerk. The election resulted as follows :

The election of 1829 was held at. the house of Adam Miller, afterwards alternating between private houses and school houses, until 1876, when a Town House was built, on the northeast quarter of section eighteen, on land belonging to Mary Stewart. |

Supervisors - Wm. McCormick, John Hahn, Charles Schmueser, A. W. Bell, Michael Sauer, George McDowell, George Ripple, William Edwards, and David Knicely.

Adams township was named after John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, born at Braintree, Massachusetts, on the 11th of July, 1767. His character was formed under the ennobling influences of a cultured home, and developed amid rare social and literary advantages. The influence of his parents is apparent in the development of his moral and intellectual nature, and it is altogether likely a better Patron Saint could not have been found. '

Topographical

The township is skirted on the north by Wills creek, and the northern portion is broken and rough. The southern part is more even, and similar to Salem. Wills creek drains the northern, and Symmes creek the southern and western portions. Coalis found accessible with but little mining, in several parts of the township, and the usual varieties of forest trees, but not in large quantities.

The soil is clay and sand, the latter predominating in the low lands, and is generally tertile, especially under the tillage of the industrious German farmer, in the northern part, who thoroughly cultivates his land.

The first brick house was built in 1834. by Jacob Gaumer, Jr., on the southwest quarter of section twenty-three, and is now occupied by G. W. Bell, Esq;

Bethesda Metiiodist Episcopal Cihiurch

The first class was organized by Joseph Carper and Cornelius Springer, in 1827, at Jesse Roe's school house (where the Baptist church now is). It was composed of Jesse Roe and Margaret, his wife, and their son Thomas; James Stewart and

| Margaret, his wife, and their son John; Mordecai Edwards and Phebe, his wife; William Barton and Jane, his wife, their son Alexander, and daughter Sarah; and Caleb Bedwell and wife. James Stewart was the leader.

church purposes, situated near the centre of section fifteen, and a log church, twenty-six by thirty, was er ected thereon, in 1835, and dedicated by Rev. H.S Fernandes. The land used for .burial purposes - adjoining the church site - was bought by Robert Shields and Robert Haesty, before the church was built. The first burial therein was Jonathan Reed's child.

A new frame church, thirty-eight by forty-two, was erected iu 1856, at the same place. The present number of members is ninety. The leaders are Nathan Ross, John Foster, and Samuel W. Sutton, Jr.

Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church

The first class was organized at the house of Mordecai Edwards, about the year 1830, and was composed of Mordecai Edwards and wife, John Stewart and Mary, his wife; Joseph Green and wife, William Hillen and Cynthia, his wife ; Basil Ridgeway and Mary, his wife; James Stewart, Sr., James Stewart Jr., and Margaret, his wife; and A. Ross.

In 1834, Mr. Edwards donated one acre of ground for a church site, on the northwest quarter of section twenty-two, and, in 1835, a log church, twenty-six by thirty, was erected thereon. The congregation erected a handsome frame church, in 1855.

The present membership numbers eighty-four. The leaders are William Edwards and W. H. Ruse. The steward is William Edwards; the local preacher, Nixon Stewart; the circuit preachers, H. M. Rader and J. R. Hoover.

The first sawmill was built by David Swigert, on the southeast quarter of section twenty-three, in 1833. The next was built by David Brellsford. on a small stream bearing his name, and which empties into Wills creek, on section two. This mill was built about 1835. The stream does not supply water enough to do much business.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

This church was organized by Rev. Fred. Minner, in 1839, with the following membership: John Vollmer and wite, Jacob Fiers and family, Martin Sauer and family, Michael Strohecker and family, Adam Shroyer, John Denny, Martin Zimmers, David Grass, Christian Gerwig, John Hahn, Henry Lapp, Jacob

February 22d, 1840, Valentine Sandel deeded a lot of ground, situated in the southeast quarter of section nine, to Daniel Moser, John Vollmer, and Adam Shroy er, Trustees, on which a hewed log church, twenty -six by it ty, was built, in

The services were conducted in the German language, until 1868, when, owing to the young membership being educated in the English language, it became necessary to adopt the English language. Rev. A. N. Bartholomew was the first pastor employed to preach.in English. This was regarded as an innovation by some, who stoutly resisted, and remained faithful to the past, such as they were accustomed to, and a division occurred. The '' conservatives'? became a corporate body, under the title of '* The Evangelical Lutheran, and Reformed Zion Church," and, as such, held the old church and burying

In 1872, Jacob Sandel donated one acre of ground, just north of the church, and a committee was appointed, consisting of Frederick Roerick, Valentine Thresh, and Jacob Sandel, and the same. year a new frame church, 36x50 was erected, at a cost of $2,000. The corner stone was laid, September 22, 1872, by Rev's. G. W. Mechling, and J. P. Hentz, and the church was dedicated October 5th, 1873, by the Rev's. G. W. Mechling and W. P. Rutterauff, assisted by the pastor, Rev. J. Weber.

To this new building a majority of the members moved. Rey. I. N. Bartholomew became the pastor, in October, 1869, and left in October, 1870. Rev. J. P. Hentz was pastor from April, 1871, to April 1873; and Rev. John Weber from that date to the present.

Gray, Francis Gray, Judson M. Darner, Angeline Darner, Abigail Sturtz, aud Mary Matchett. John Darner was Clerk, until 1873, when J. M. Darner was appointed. John Matchett was ordained Deacon, April 22d, 1827. Rev. Eli Frey became pastor, July 28, 1872, and was succeeded by Rev. W. M. Marshall, Marchi 4; 1876, and was followed by Rev. J. C. Skinner. September 1, 1879, Rev. Lyman Mears was installed pastor, and is the present incumbent.