Buffalo Township

Buffalo Township

EuECTioN - Early Skttlerk - Owners of Real Ebtatk in 1830 - Abram Rich - The MiLEYH - Jacob GRKUf* - John Drake - Other Early Settlers - RELioiorR.

IT is recorded in the journal of the commissioners of Guernsey County that, on the 5th of June, 1810, "a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county was presented, praying for a new townshi)) to be set off, to be called Buffalo Township." The [>etition was granted and the township erected, an election being ordereil at the house of Jacob Jordan (who lived near Iliramsburg), on the 23d of June, for the purpose of clioosing two justices of the peace and other township officers. Buffalo Township, as then constituted, included a large territory, besides a part of Guernsey County, Buffalo, Brookfield, and Noble, part of Center, and the northern half of both Sharon and Olive Townships were included within its limits. Andrew Wolf wa& lister for the township in 1811, and Jaflies Dillon in 1812. By the formation of Morgan County in 1S11> the extent of the township was much reduced, and the erection of new townships in Guernsey County still further '' curtailed its fair proportions," so that in 1880 Buffalo embraced only township 8 of range \) of the original survey. The township remained a full congressional township until Noble County was formed in 1851, which left the first

"Commencing for the same at the southeast corner of section 36 in township number 8 of range 9; thence north along said township line to the northeast corner of section 13 in said township and range ; thence west along the section line to the northwest comer of section 18 in said township and range; thence south along said township line to the southwest corner of section 31 in said township and range; thence east along the said township line to the place of beginning: containing twenty-four sections."

June 19, 1851, the common pleas court, then in session at Olive, ordered that an election for two just ices of the })eace be held in the new township of Buffalo on the 12th of July, 1851. If two justices were elected in accordance with this order, but one qualified, as only one name appears recorded, that of John Stevens, July 2(>, 1851. He, therefore, was the first justice of the peace in the new township.

Buffalo

Among the earliest settlers were Abraham Booher, an 1812 soldier, John Kackley, George R. Johnson, George Rich and John Rich, Thomas Nicholson, Samuel Kackley, Isaac Kackley, John Drake, John Larrick, Jacob Larrick and Joseph Dyson. Most of these came from Virginia. George and John Rich came from Pennsylvania and Thomas Nicholson from Jefferson County. Settlement began about 1812.

The owners of real estate in Buffalo Township are thus given on the tax duplicate of Guernsey County in 1830; and, as no earlier list could be found, it is given here as the earliest authentic record of the property-holders of the township:

Probably the firet white men who resided within the present limits of BuflFalo Township were Abraham Rich, Abraham Miley and John Miley. They came in the spring of 1810, built a camp, made a small clearing, raised a few potatoes and lived there through the winter, subsisting chiefly on potatoes. In the following year they were joined by John and George Rich, brothers of Abraham. Abraham and John Miley settled in Seneca Township a few years later, and remained until they died. Abraham Rich, who was only a boy when he 'came, remained in Buffalo Township until he was nineteen years of age, when he married and settled in Seneca Township.

John Rich, soon after he settled, lost a couple of horses. After searching all around in vain he heard of some horses that had swam the Ohio River in Moundsville, and went in search of them. He went back to his old home in Greene County, Pa., and found them there. The^*^ had found their way home through the almost trackless wilderness, alone and unaided.

George Rich, one of the earliest pioneers, was a native of Virginia. He died in 1818. His children were Sally, Ann, Jane, Polly and Jeremiah. Jane and Jeremiah are still living. The latter is among the oldest native residents of the township. He was born on the farm where he now lives, in 1815. He married Lovina, daughter of James Reed. Three of their children are living. Mr. Rich taught school in early life. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty years.

John and Abraham Rich were noted hunters. They kept dogs and hunted through all the surrounding country, killing many bears, wolves, wild cats, panthers and deer.

When these three pioneers were here alone in 1810, they were expecting friends out from Pennsylvania, and of course were anxious to welcome them. For fear that the newcomers might lose their way, they blazed trees toward Washington, Guernsey County, and in the other direction toward Barnesville, that they might have no difliculty in finding the camp.

Jacob Gregg came from Washington County, Pa., about 1806, and settled in this township, entering 160 acres of land. He died about 1853 at a ripe old age, leaving six children, four of whom are still living. His son Uriah was bom in this county in 1810, and resided in the county during his lifetime. He served as township clerk and treasurer, and was a memi>er of the Methodist Protestant church. He died in 1861, having accumulated a comfortable property, though he began life with but an axe. Of his children, four are living, all in this county. Three of the sons were in the army. Samuel was in the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died at Camp Chase, Ohio. Jacob L. served in the One Hundred and Sixteenth

John Miley was born in Virginia in 1801. About 1812 he came to Buffalo Township with his mother, brother and sister. His father died in Virginia. Ilis mother married George Rich after coming here. Isaac and George Miley are still living.

George Miley was born in Seneca Township in 1830. He was reared a farmer, and has followed that occupation. In early years he hauled wheat to McConnelsville and Zanesville, and marketed it 'for fifty cents per bushel. Mr. Miley has served as township trustee and assessor, and is a member of the Lutheran church. He married Rebecca Finley in 1853. Children : William H. (dead), Charles H. (dead), James M., Thomas R.^ Jessie Belle, Mancil and Mary E.

John Drake came to the township about 1812. He was bom in Frederick County, Va., in 1772, and in 1800 married Sarah Kackley of the same State. Their children were Nancy, who married Stephen Hickle and died at the age of seventy; Elisha, Buffalo Township, and Eliza (Williams), Mt. Ephraim. Elisha Drake was born near Winchester, Va., in 1808, and came to Ohio with his parents. In 1836 he married Rebecca Clark, a native of Guernsey County. Their children are John W., Benjamin C, Sarah M., William (deceased), Lydia J., Eliza E. and Mary A. (deceased). Elisha Drake died in 1871. His widow is still living.

Benjamin C. Drake was born in Buffalo Township, in 1839. He taught several terms of school and on the 22d of August, 1862, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted corporal and afterward sergeant. He was in all of the engagements of his regiment until June 5, 1864, when he was wounded and taken prisoner at Piedmont, Va. He was first wounded by a piece of shell in the right thigh. The regiment charged through the rebel works and he was again wounded in the ankle. After the regiment left, he was captured by Mosby's guerrillas. He was taken to Staunton, Va., and thence to Richmond. At Staunton, while getting on the cars, he fell and broke his leg. He remained at Richmond, subsisting on prison fare, until he became a mere skeleton. In September, 1864, he was exchanged and reported at Annapolis. He received a furlough, and May 15, 1 865, was discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio. In 1865 he married Eliza J. Halley. Children : Charles A., Joseph B., John W., Eaton A.(deceased), Lillie A., Estella, Mary M., Elisha E. and Sarah. Mr. Drake has served as justice of the peace two terms. He is a member of the Lutheran church.

Among those who came from Virginia about 1812 were Levi Lj'ons, John Kackley, John Drake, George R. Johnson, Abraham Booher and Samuel and Isaac Kackley, most of whom had families at the time of their settlement here. They had been neighbors in Virginia and came

Levi Lyons was born near Harper's Ferry, Ya. He married Rachel Kackley. Their children were James, Margaret, Jacob, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Rachel. He was afterward twice married - first to Elizabeth Spillman, and second to Lydia A. Rhodes. Of the second marriage two children are living: William and Sarah J.

Benjamin Lyons was born near Hartford, Guernsey County, in 1816, and came to this township with his parents about two years later. He married Mary E. McCarty, and they had seven children. Mr. Lyons was in the mercantile business at Rochester, Noble County, from 1849 to 1857, and has since been a farmer.

Thomas Nicholson was an early settler. His sons were Andrew, Simon, John and Thomas, all of whom settled in the vicinity. Andrew lived in Center Township; Simon in Seneca, and the others in Buffalo.

John Gregg, whose father was an early settler, was born in BuflFalo Township, in 1822. He married Nancy Morris. Eight children were born of this union, four of whom are living.

In 1810 Jacob Shri ver, from Greene County, Pa., came to the township and built a cabin. March 17, 1817, he arrived, with his family, on the place now owned by Noah Shriver. He died in 1843. His children were James P., John, Mary A., Jacob, Ehzabeth, Joseph and Noah.

from Washington County, Pa., came to Ohio about 1816. He was bom in 1786 and died in 1864. He married Sarah Lawrence, and was the father of Margaret, William, John, Robert, Barbara, Alexander, James, Sarah J., Samuel L., Martha A. and Andrew W., four of whom are dead. Andrew was in the army, and died during the war. William Clark, who died in 1886, was bom in 1812. He married Mary Ann Clark, and was the father of six children. The family are Methodists.

Jacob Larrick came from Virginia to Belmont County about 1817, and about two years later settled in Buffalo Township. He died in 1847. Of his children only James H. lives in Noble County. Jacob Larrick had an early grist-mill, operated by horsepower, also a saw-mill.

Stephen Hickle was a native of Virginia. Hisson Stephen, who was born in 1801, died in 1878. Isaac N. Hickle enlisted in the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry in September, 1861, and served until October, 1862, when he was discharged by reason of disability. In May, 1864, he again volunteered in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the regiment was mustered out. In the fall of the same year he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war.

Joseph Graham, a native of Virginia, was a pioneer settler of Guernsey County, near Senecaville. He married Polly Glover, and was the father of ten children. Samuel Graham was born in Seneca Township in 1829. In 1852 he went to Califor- nia, where he remained eleven years. In 1864 he married Hannah, daughter of John Miley. Children : J. S., Margaret S., Curtis and Charles A. Mrs. Graham died in 1873, and Mr. Graham afterward married Rebecca Ward. He has served as township trustee, and, in 1886, was the Democratic candidate for Infirmary director. He is a leading farmer and stock-raiser.

Samuel G. Clark, a leading Methodist, and a class-leader for many years, was born in 1817, and died in 1879. His parents were Benjamin and Nancy (Finley) Clark.

Joseph B. Clark was born in Guernsey County in 1830. In 1861 he married Margaret E. Conkle. Mr. Clark was formerly engaged in the mercantile business and is now a farmer. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served six years as Infirmary director.

One of the early school-houses of the township was built on the land of George R. Johnson. It was of round logs, with a bark roof, clapboard door and puncheon floor. George Kackley was an early teacher.

Methodist Episcopal Church, - A Methodist class was formed as early as 1820 and met in private houses and school-houses until 1844, when a brick meeting-house was erected in the eastern part of the township which is still in use. Abraham Rich was the first class-leader. Jeremiah Rich, still living, held the oflBce later ; also Jacob Rich, now of Center Township. A number of the early members joined the Mount Ephraim church when it was organized. A great revival in 1832 added largely to the membership of all the Methodist churches in this section of the State. Among the early members of the Buffalo church were Thomas Nicholson, Sr., John Rich, Abraham Rich, James McConnell, Pollard and others ; one of the results of the revival of 1832 was a large number of local preachers. Among those who served in that capacity in Buffalo and Seneca Townships were John Rich, Abraham Rich, John Booher, William Lowrey, Elijah Millhorn, William Thompson, James Thompson, Robert Thompson, John Thompson and others.