Bloom Township

Bloom Township

Bloom was established in 1805. The following names have been furnished as first settlers: Abraham Courtright, Jesse D. Courtright, Zephemiah Drake, Christian Merchant, Peter Powel, Conrad Plainer, Michael Thrash, John Smaltz, Michael AUspaugh, Jacob Allspaugh, Levi Moore and Daniel Hoy. Bloom Township contains Lithopolis and Greencastle. Greencastle was first laid out, and .Jesse D. Courtright was its first proprietor. This was in 1810. In 1814, one Bougher laid out the town of Lithopolis. It is the largest village in the county, possibly. It has three churches and an academy. Lithopolis is fourteen, and Greencastle ten miles from Lancaster, both on the old Columbus road.

A quaint rule is spoken of as having been established in this township in its early history, viz. : No man was allowed to vote at their elections who could not produce a certificate that he had performed two days' work on the road, removing the stumps.

The first school-teacher in Bloom Township was Abraham Courtright. He taught there in 1805. The first church in the township was built by the German Presbj'terians, in the year 1807. It was near the old State road, and is said to be still standing.

The Trustees seem to have occupied much of the time of their meetings in attention to the reports and duties of Road Supervisors and Fence Viewers. The latter office, in Ohio, has long since been abolished. There was there, as in all townships at that early day, provided by law a special Board of Overseers of the Poor. Under the action of this Board, the Overseers sometimes sold the paupers to the lowest bidder for their maintenance.

Saw-mills were verj' numerous. Of those who run saw-mills at that early day, are mentioned Jacob Allspaugh, Sam'l Kistler. Judge Chaney, and a Mr. Barnett. The last two, Kistler and Chaney, are old citizens of Bloom Township, and referto the times in the past when goods were brought on horseback from Wheeling, Marietta and Zanesville, and of going to Zanes- ville for their grinding, a distance of over fifty miles. As late as 1822, it is said, there were no grinding facilities in Bloom besides one small raccoon-burr mill. Wheat was exchanged for salt, bushel for bushel, which was considered a great point gained by the farmers.

In 1822, there were two hewed log churches in the township, that were used jointly by the Lutherans and German Reforms. Rev. Steck was the pastor of the former, and Rev. Geo. Wise of the latter. Methodists, Presbyterians and others, at that time, held their meetings in private residences,

Source changes here: from History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Miller, Charles Christian, published 1912; 1,426 words in this source stream.

Bloom Township

Bloom township is in the western tier of townships. It is bounded on the north by Violet, on the east by Greenfield, on the south by Amanda and on the west by Pickaway County. It is laid out regularly six sections each direction. There are no large streams in this township, though the Hocking river rises near the center of the township. The Hocking Valley crosses this township across Section i, in the extreme northeastern part, there are four good pikes running in nearly every direction. The Scioto Valley Traction line and the Ohio Canal pass through sections one and two.

The township was laid off in 1805; the early settlers were the Hushors, Meyers, Clicks. Clarks, Hoys, Courtrights, Scotts, Crites, Williamsons and others. Abraham Van Courtright came from Pennsylvania in 1 80 1. He married Miss McFarland of Greenfield Township and settled two miles south of Lockville near the Betzer Church. Jesse D. Courtright laid out Greencastle in 1810 and had it surveyed by John Hamilton. Samuel Weisser came from Pennsylvania in 1818 and kept a blacksmith shop for forty years. He was justice of the peace for. thirty-five years and an official member of the church fifty years.

The Presbyterian Church was built in 1861. Names that are connected with this church are Abraham, John and Jacob Courtright, J. A. Whitzel, Samuel Weiner, H. R. Roller, L. C. Friebley. William Swayer. The present (1912) pastor is B. F. Munson who also serves the church at Lithopolis.

The Rock Mill was built in 1799 and was the first of its kind in the township. The building was low down among the rocks and the grists were taken in at the gable window

And Representative Citizens

Lithopolis is the principal town in Bloom township. It has about 500 inhabitants. It was laid out in 181 5 by Frederick Baugher. It was first called Centerville, but in 1836 it was chartered and called Lithopolis. Elias Perry was the first mayor and Isaac Cade the first clerk.

One of the early settlers was Dr. E. L. Miner. He first removed to Royalton in 1820 and to Centerville (afterwar<ls Lithopolis) and there spent forty-five years of his professional life.

Dr. Miner, with George Custer, Mr. Brown and a dozen others, founded the Presbyterian Church in 1834. Rev. Leonard was the first pastor, succeeded by Rev. S. M. Wilson. Rev. B. F. Munson is the present pastor. The Methodist and Lutheran churches were built about 1840. Rev. B. F. Jackson is pastor of the Methodist Church and Rev. C. A. Rhiel. pastor of the Lutheran Church.

The old Betzer Church, two miles south of Lockville, has had an interesting history. It is one of the oldest churches in the township, is union in character, having been German Reformed. Lutheran and Presbyterian. It was built of hewed log in 1809. The present building was built in 1882. The Fellers Hill, upon which this church is built, commands one of the most picturescjue views to be seen in the county. From this point with the naked eye can be seen fields and streams, \alley, hill, and woodland until Newark and the hills of Granville skirt the horizon twenty miles away. The country is gently undulating and very fertile.

Lithopolis has the following business houses : E. E. Mason's general store. Weiser & Lisle, hardware ; William Kiser, grocery ; Geo. \\'. Coffman. grocery, Geo. W. Zangmeister, Charles Fiskhorn, G. W. Lehman and John Klamfath, blacksmith shop; Thaddeus Wade, barljcr shop; Joseph Benner. shoe shop, L. S. Bennett, drug and book store.

Dr. Geo. M. Courtright, Dr. E. B. Roller and Dr. J. A. Kershner are physicians now at Lithopolis. The Masonic Lodge, chartered in 1848. has a flourishing lodge. There are also lodges of the Eastern Star and Modern Brotherhood of America. There are thirteen school districts in the county and the following are the teachers: Lithopolis High School, Jesse Kinner. superintendent; Mrs. Jesse Kinner, principal ; Grace M. Souders. intermediate; Rose B. Dutton, primary. The district schools are taught by Dan Cohayen. A. J. Kiger. Carl P. Zangmeister, Vernon Cormany, Arlie Foos, J. E. Croff. Walter R. Peer, Maggie Laney, H. C. Smith. Bud Thush, Ralph Harris and Goldie Hickle.

In Lithopolis there are four churches all supplied with pastors except the Nazarene ; outside of Lithopolis there are six churches - Presbyterian of Green Castle with Rev. B. 1". Munson. pastor; United Brethren, Salem, Rev. Wright, pastor; Reform Church, Rev. Heffley ; Bloom Chapel, Rew Rulman; Wesley Chapel on the Royalton circuit with Rev. Cunningham as pastor; and Betzer Church.

Mayor, John Farrand ; clerk, William Wildermuth; treasurer, E. S. Bennett; councilmen, Sanford Foor, G. W. Lehman, Geo. Zangmeister, A. E. Stephenson, C. E. Williams ; Board of Education, Peter Dotson, A. I. Crumley, Thurman Lisle, Thaddeus Wade and W. D. Cassidy. The township officers of Bloom township are : Trustees, Thomas Roller, W. R. Coffman, Isaac G. Hay; board of education - T. H. Courtright, president; M. M. Barnhart, Geo. W. Calvert, J. L. Moore, F. J. Boving; C. W. Wiser is township treasurer; and George R. Wiser, township clerk. J. E. Cross and Emerson Foor are justices of the peace and T. E. Markwood, constable.

Greencastle is a small village laid out in 1810 at the center of the township. Jefferson, in the northern part of the township, was laid out in 1812 and was on the military road from Wheeling to the lakes - and in an early day was a village of some importance. C. W. Wiser conducts a general store.

Lockville was laid out in the extreme northern part of Bloom Township shortly after the building of the Ohio Canal. It was named from the number of locks at this place. It was of some importance when the canal was used as a thoroughfare but now is a collection of houses only.

Clear Creek Township constitutes the extreme southwest of Fairfield County. It is bounded on the north by Amanda Township, on the east by Madison and on the south and west by Pickaway County. Clear Creek formerly embraced parts of Madison and Amanda Townships but they were organized as townships, leaving Clear Creek a township of 36 sections. The principal streams are Salt Creek, which enters the township at the northwest and flows southeasterly: Sippo Creek, which flows south through the western sections; Dunkle Run, which rises in Section 5, flows east into Clear Creek, and which is a stream of some size which flows through the northeastern sections of the county, and from which the township is named. The surface of the township is undulating, growing hilly to the north ; the soil is fertile and the farms small and well cultivated.

The history of Clear Creek Township begins with the settlement of Jacob Shumaker in 1797. George Stout came from Bucks County, Penn., and settled one mile north of Stoutsville in 1804. George Dellsaver, Adam Fossnaught, John Leist, Benjamin Stout, Charles Friend, Peter Wolf, John Mooney, and John Stepleton all came to Clear Creek Township before 1810. John Leist was a member of the Legislature eight years, and a commissioner to adjust damages from constructing canals for 22 years. He was at Detroit and Ft. Meigs, served under Gen. Harrison, and voted for ten presidents as a member of the Old Whig party.

The settlers of Clear Creek Township did their trading at Zanesville and when they needed salt, nails and many other necessities they were compelled to drive there a distance of 50 miles - and a week's time was taken going and coming.

There are six churches in the township St. John's Evangelical, Rev. E. A. Torrey, pastor; Reformed, Rev. E. E. Zecheil, pastor; Lutheran, Rev. Shoffer, pastor - all located at Stoutsville: Brethren at Sixteen, with Rev. Belshure, pastor; Methodist at Oakland, John H. Redmon, pastor, and Lutheran, at Dutch Hollow, with Rev. Ditamore as pastor. This

The Fairfield-Pickaway News, of Stoutsville, O., was founded by H. O. Hardin, August 25, 1888. It is an eight-page paper. It has never changed hands, and is in a home of its own. The circulation is 600, subscriptions paid in advance. It is non-political, but independent in politics.

The township officers of Clear Creek Township are : Township trustees - John Groves, Frank Hedges, Nicholas Fossnaugh. Township clerk - C. O. Barr. Township superintendent of schools^ - C. E. Valentine.

The Farmers and Citizens Bank of Stoutsville enjoys the patronage and confidence of the people. Its president is E. V. Barr and cashier W. A. Myers.