Clinton Township

Clinton Township

in this township, and of its prominent citizens, that we shall not occupy mnch space in addition to that necessary for its list of justices. It is one of the four townships created at the organization of the county, and, containing the county-seat, has been the central field of operations heretofore quite minutely described. The land is all good ; the citizens, generally, moral and industrious. It is well watered by the Ko-ko-sing, Dry Creek and Center Run, and possessed of eyery article necessary for convenience and health of the inhabitants. The greater part of its wealth and population is within Mt. Yernon, and at this place the business is generally carried on. The township is divided into convenient school and road districts, and the whole is embraced in one election district, which polls usually 1,000 votes. This township, outside the city limits, contained in 1860, 884 whites. The aggregate value of land, as equalized by the State Board, was |543,473.

Moui^TT Yerxoi^ steadily increased in population and wealth until the present war withdrew a large portion of the citizens from industrial pursuits and caused a general depression, from which the recovery will come with peace. In 1860, there were 61 industrial establishments within the city limits, and the value of products was $701,050. The aggregate population of the five wards was 4,117, of whom 46 were colored persons. The aggregate value of lots and buildings, as equalized by the State Board, was |723,239. We have coUected much information, in regard to this i)lace, from its foundation to the present time, which we may here- after give to the public in a volume. Tlie limits prescribed to this work preclude us now. The citizens have certainly cause to congratulate themselves upon the growth, prosperity and health of the place - upon their many and great advantages, moral, social, educational, religious. The unsurpassed water-power - the superiority of the locality for manufacturing - must cause its continued prosperity. IN^orton's Mills, the Mount Vernon Iron Works, the Kokosing Foundry, the Woolen Factory, and other manufacturing establishments, and the superiority of Mount Yernon mechanics, have contributed much to the advancement of the city and county. In the not far distant future, this city will be one of the foremost in the interior of Ohio.

The Knox Mutual Insurance Co., incorporated in 1838, went into operation with C. P. Buckingham, H. B. Curtis, Gr. Browning, J. E. Davidson, 0. Delano, E. Miller, I. Hadley, D. S. Norton and Abel Hart, as Directors. Gen. Buckingham was for man}^ years President, and Eichard Thomas, Secretary. Present officers : G. W. Hank, J". Sperry, J. Blake, J. M. Byers, C. Cooper, K. C. Hurd, C. P. Buckingham, W. McClelland, Directors. G. W. Hauk, President, and Wm. Turner, Secretary and Treasurer. The first loss sustained was by the burning of Eev. M. T. C. Wing's dwelling ; amount paid, $900.

The Knox Co. Bank, organized in 1847, with Henry B. Curtis, J. W. Kussell, C. Delano, J. B. Thomas and Sewall Gray, Directors. Capital stock, $100,000. Henry B. Curtis has been its

History Op

The Bank of Mt. Yernon was organized April, 1862. Directors : J. W. Rnssell, Prest. ; 0. Delano, M. Thompson, W. H. Smith, P. D. Sturges. Mr. Sturges is Cashier, D. W. Lambert, Teller.

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 20, was duly instituted on the 21st day of June, 1843, by a dispensation from the R. W. Grand Lodge of Ohio, by D. D. G. Master J. T. Blain, acting under a disj)ensation from G. M. Thomas Sherlock.

Charter Members. - U. Blake, L. Waite, L. D. Nash, W. Sullivan, and R. "Wright. The following officers were duly installed : R. Blake, N. G-.; Liberty Waite, V. G.; L. D. Nash, Secretary; W. Sullivan, Treasurer. Initiated at the first meeting: J.K.Miller, D. A. Robertson, and J. R. Wallace.

Celebrations. - The first public celebration was June 22, 1844, D. T. Disney, of Cincinnati, Orator j the second, June 21, 1S4S, Rev. Mr. Doolittle, of Columbus, Orator; the third, June 19, 1851, Rev. A. T. Mather, Orator.

Quindaro Lodge No. 316, was duly instituted June 9, 1857, by a dispensation from the E. W. G. Lodge of Oliio, by D. G. Master P. G. A. E. Glenn, acting under a dispensation from G. M. W. 0. Chidsey.

F. Andrews, J. Lamb, T. P. Frederick, and J. Jennings. Officers installed: J. M. Byers, N. G. ; T. P. Frederick, V. G. ; G. B. Arnold, Secretary ; A. C. Elliott, Financial Secretary ; J. F. Andrews, Treasurer. Admitted on card : M. McFarland, A. J. Beach, W. C. Cooper, J. Jennings. Initiated : I. Underwood and L. Monk. The dedication of the new hall. No. 109 Main street, was June 9, 1858. A supper was given to the members of the Order. P. G. Rev. Glancy delivered an address.

KoJcosiuff Mncmyipment No. 38, was instituted at Mt. Yernon, March 29, 1819, by Grand Chief Patriarch Williams, assisted by J. H. Wheeler as Grand

Representatives to the Grand Encampjnent of Ohio. - Since the adoption of the new constitution, in ] 855, the following Patriarchs, viz : W. M. Bunn, J. W. White, J. E. Andrews.

Senators In State Legislature

Peom the Senatorial District of wliicli tliis land formed a part before tlie organization of the county, and after its first settlement, we find in the fourth General Assembly, at Ohillicothe, Jacob Burton; in the fifth session, Elnathan Scofield. In the sixth session, Jacob Burton appeared and was qualified as Senator from Eairfield, Licking and Knox. In 1809, the Senators from these counties were Elnathan Scofield and Jacob Burton. In 1810, Wm. Trimble and Eobert E. Slaughter were the Senators, and they continued as such while the sessions were at Zanesville. In 1812, at Ohillicothe, the Senator was Wm. Gavit, and we were in the same district with Bichland and Licking for many years. William Gass, Mordecai Bartley, John Spencer, John Shaw and Daniel S. Norton were Senators until the course of political alliance changed, and new connections were formed. The north and south union was seyered, and we were associated with the counties to the east until the adoption of the new Constitution in 1851 ; sometimes, in districting, Knox was put with Holmes, at other times with Coshocton, and then again with both counties. Since that period our associations have been with the west, embracing Morrow, until, in 1861, the district was made to inchide Wayne, Ashland and Richland. Beside the Senators aforenamed, wo have had the following, elected at the periods named, the term of the office being two years, yiz. : In 1829, Thomas Rigdon; in 1831, Wm. Gass; in 1832, Byi'am Leonard; in 1831, Wm. Rayenscroft; in 1836, Peres Spragne ; in 1838, James Matthews ; in 1810, Byram Leonard ; in 1812, John Johnson ; in 1841, Jacob Koch ; in 1846, Nicholas Spindler ; in 1848, Asa G. Dimock; in 1850, L. Yan Buskirk. Under the new Constitution we have had - in 1851, L. Yan Buskirk; in 1853, John T. Oreigh; in 1855, Robert 0. Kirk ; in 1857, Davis Miles ; in 1859, Wm. Bonar; and in 1861, Davis Miles.

Common Tleas Judges

Who haye i)resided in the districts in which this county has been situated, are William Wilson, of Kewark ; Alexander Harper, of Zanesville ; Ezra Dean, of Wooster ; Jacob Parker, of Mansfield ; Levi Cox, of Wooster ; James Stewart, of Mansfield ; Rollin 0. Hurd, of Mt. Yernon ; Sherman Finch and Thomas 0. Jones, of Delaware. Of this number. Judges Hurd, Einch and Jones have been elected by the people ; the others were chosen by the Legislature.

Clerks Of Common Pleas

Charles Lofland, James Smith, Isaac Hadley, S. W. Earquhar, and A. C. Elliott have served as Clerks. Prior to 1851, they were apj)ointed by the Judges ; and since that time, the two last named have been elected by the people. Among the Deputies who have performed longest service, were Henry B. Curtis, E. C. Vore, Horatio S. Miller, E. P. Griffith, A. C. Elliott.

Associate Judges County Auditors

1820. W. Y. Earquhar, the first officer of this description, was appointed at this date, to value the lands for taxation ; and when the law creating a distinct bureau passed, having been Clerk of the Board of Commissioners and conversant with its business, he was reappointed annually until 1824, from which time the people have elected for a term of two vears.

Probate Judges

The ^N'ew Constitution created this office, and at the first election, in October, 1851, for Probate Judge, to serve three years, commencing Eebruary, 1852, Sam'i F. Gilcrest was elected, entered upon the duties of his office Eebruary, 1852, and at the

Members Of Constitutional Convention

The Convention tbat framed tbe present Constitution of Oliio, vras held in 1851. Knox and Holmes formed a district, and the Delegates elected were Matthew H. Mitchell and John Sellers, Democrats, over Rollin C. Hurd and John H. Wheeler, Whigs.

Members Of The Board Of Equalization

Until 1825 this office was filled by appointment of Commissioners each year, and from that time the people elected for a term of two years. The period at which each Treasurer was chosen, we append :

County Collectors

The Commissioners appointed annually the collector of personal tax, and that upon lands of residents. In 1820, the duties of this officer were somewhat changed, and, in 1817, the office was

In 1822, a system of cutting under was commenced by competitors for this oilice, as we find that the State tax was collected this year for 2| per cent., and County tax gratis ; the next year Brown underbid J per cent. ; and Shaw, in 1824, capped the climax by proi)osing to collect both State and County tax gratis !

Assessors have been in our history of two kinds - ToAvnship and County. The county were appointed by the Commissioners until, in 1827, the people by law were required to elect such officer ; and after 1811 the office for the county was abolished, and the old system of Township Assessors was re-established.

Prior to 1827, the Commissioners appointed, as Assessors, E. D. Simons for 1821 and '5, Marvin Tracy in 1826, and Hill Eunyan in 1827, who served from March until the October election, when he was elected for two years. In 1829, John Greer was elected, and, having resigned in October, 1830, Daniel McEarland was elected and continued until, in 1831, Henry B. Carter was chosen, and served two terms. In 1838, XJzal Ball was elected ; in 1810, Wait Whitney

History Of County Commissioners

Henry Markley, Matthew Merrit, and Wra. Douglass were elected Oct. 11th; and, by lot, it was declared that Markley continue three years, Merrit two, and Douglass one.

1808. Silas Brown, appointed by Thos. Kirker, Acting Governor of the State, June 6, till October election, and reappointed by Governor Samuel Huntington, October 11, 1808.

Prosecuting Attorneys

half of the State when no better qualified person was present. He was not an attorney, but a^ipears to have been allowed fees for his services. Edward Herrick was the main reliance in this branch in the early courts, until 1812, when Samuel Mott was appointed on the 14th of March. In January, 1814, Charles K. Sherman was appointed, and at different terms S. W. Culberson, Wyllis Silliman, Hosmer Curtis, John W. Warden, and other attorneys, were appointed by the court, as business required, until in 1833 the Legislature provided for the Prosecuting Attorney's election biennially by the voters of the county, who have made the following selections :

18] 0. John Dunlap appointed June, in place of Smith, resigned. 1815. Wm. Y. Farquhar appointed April 15, and resigned 1827. 1827. Edson Harkness appointed.

The act of the Legislature of March 3d, 1831, having provided for the election of this officer for a term of three years, the first elected by the peoi)le was, in

County Recorder

The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas appointed this officer until 1829, at the October election, the people chose a Kecorder. Under the former system, the term of service was seven years ; under the present, three years.

The Legislature of 1828-9 having provided for appointment of Recorders by County Commissioners, where office becomes vacant prior to October, the Commissioners appointed -

Infirmary Directors

It will be expected that a history of this county will devote more than a passing notice to the memory of that citizen of whom, in July, 1849, the editor of the Times said, " We are of opinion that none of the earliest pioneers of our town have ever done so much to promote its growth and prosperity as Mr. Norton. If Mt. Yernon is specially indebted to the enterprise and liberality of any one man, that man is Daniel S. ^N^orton."

The Democratic Banner of JSTov. 1, 1859, says : " One of our most eminent and highly valued citizens died suddenly, of congestion of the lungs, on Tuesday morning, October 25th, aged 72 years." The following extract from that notice of his death evidences the regard and opinion entertained for his services, and its republication will not be inappropriate :

"He first visited Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1816, and, in the summer of that year, introduced the first complete Carding Machine in this part of the State, and set it up at the mill of William Douglas, now occupied by J. S. Banning. In the summer of 1817, he moved to Mt. Vernon, and in the fall of that year, having secured the admirable mill seat and water power which his sagacious eye had discovered the summer previous, he built the mills, which, improved and enlarged from time to time, as the wants of the couuty required, he continued to occupy and operate until his death.

"He engaged also in the mercantile business, and carried it on prosperously for many years. He erected a woolen and a cotton factory, and an oil mill, and engaged extensively in agriculture and the raising of cattle and horses, and contributed much to the improvement of the stock of both in the county.

"He was elected to the Senate from Knox and Richland counties, and while in that body took lively interest and an active part in inaugurating and establishing the wise canal policy of the State. He was a membor of the committee appointed to welcome De Witt Clinton. At the canal celebration in July, 1825, he first met Bishop Chase, who served as chaplain on that occasion, and during the interview he suggested to the Bishop the eligibility of the grounds which were afterwards chosen for the location of Kenyon College. He contributed liberally to the establishment of that institution, and was always its steadfast friend.

He was always among the foremost in all public enterprises calculated to increase the growth of the town, or improve and develope the resources of the country.

As a man of business, he had no superior. Prompt, energetic and deliberate, he apeared to see the end from the beginning, and his plans , wisely laid, were worked out with a precision which commanded the admiration of all.

A man of social qualities, he was the pride of the society in which he lived. Remarkable for his address and conversational power, his extensive reading, his acute observation and his wonderful memory, he attracted notice wherever he appeared, at home or abroad, and entered no circle which was not entertained and instructed by his presence.

H3 had a keen perception of merit in the young, and not a few owe the beginning of their prosperous career in business, to his kind and wise patronage. He was ever ready to aid the industrious, and had a lively sympathy for the unfortunate. It was a touching sight to see the poor gather around his bier, and not the least of a good man's reward, to hear them call him blessed."

A brief statement of some of the events of his life, evincing his indomitable spirit, extraordinary business qualifications, great liberality and genuine patriotism, may follow the tribute from another pen. The first American settlers in the Attakapas of Orleans were the Gortons, who for several years endured contentedly the perils and privations in that, then foreign, clime, until sickness and death reduced their number and deprived them of their head ; anil the management of the affairs of Mrs. Ann Norton, and nine chiklren, devolved entirely upon the young Daniel S., who, possessed of a peculiar business mind and an adventurous spirit, carried on various trading operations in the territory and the Mexican provinces. His papers, carefully preserved, show many ventures that few would have the nerve to undertake ; and yet success invariably crowned his efforts. Some of his practical operations are worthy of notice. He introduced the first sugar-cane in the Attakapas, and established that it could be cultivated successfully. His active and well informed mind, and inventive genius, was always striving to make improvements, and he first directed attention to the navigation of the Bayous and rivers, and was interested in the first boat that engaged in their trade. He traveled on the first two boats that made trips on the Mississippi, and subsequently on the first boat built by a company at Brownsville, Pa., and run b}^ Oax)t. Gregg on the lower Mississippi and Red River. His suggestions in construction and navigation, his knowledge of the rivers and the country, contributed much to those enterprises.

It was with the view of carryini** on a ti'ade with the southern country tliat he located at Connelsville, and engaged in erecting machinery for manufacturing ; and hence his deep solicitude for successful navigation of the rivers, to promote which he carried on correspondence, published articles, made investments, and labored industriouslv. The first Ootton Factory on the Youghiogheny he erected, and operated successfully, bringing the raw cx)ttoii from Ms old home in Louisiana. His lands in that countiy were of great yalue, and his business there for about a half century was faithfully attended to by Gov. Johnson, as his agent, who has informed us of his unsurpassed reputation as a business man. He never relinquished the idea, which he had entertained though life, of returning there to live, and which was only broken in upon by his coming to this county to marry, and beingstill further irresistibly attracted by the fine water power, fertile lands and beautiful prospects of Owl Creek.

The building of machinery and improving of mills and manufacturing establishments may be said to have been the ruling passion of his life. We find a petition presented to the General Assembly of Ohio, when it met in Ohillicothe, by Daniel 8. Norton, John H. Piatt and Herman Long, of Cincinnati, Asa I^orton, of Kentucky, and Abraham Baldwin, of Pennsylvania, who had associated in manufacturing business, asking for encouragement of woolen manufactories, etc. The first complete carding machines, west of the Allegheny mountains, were put up by Daniel S. Norton, and our venerable townsman, Wm. Reeves, says that he first saw him, in 1805, at Tom Smith's mill, on Whitewater, setting up machines.

I have often heard father laugh about how his father caused him to trade a valuable lot in Cincinnati for a little sorrel pony, saddle and bridle, and leave there for his home in the Attakapas. Another trade that amused him very much was that of a set of machines, to a man named Lowrie, for a scholar- sliii? in Transylvania University, wliich liis father, wlio liad given Mm wliat lie deemed sufficient education at Middlebury College, did not relish ; nevertheless, he j)rocured his books, and took out the value in Latin, Greek, and mathematics, &c. There he formed the acquaintance of many young men who have since become eminent in the country, and that friendship and regard for Henry Clay which caused him to cling to liis fortunes tlirough good anfl through evil report.

His career in this county - his efforts to promote education, home manufactm*es and internal improvements; his contributions to objects calculated to benefit the public ; his assistance to old settlers in purchasing their farms and stock, making improvements, and providing for their families ; his kindness to friends, and generosity to relatives - will long be remembered. His love of country was unbounded, and the blood of the Eevolution never coursed through veins more determined to perpetuate "Libert}^ and Union." His liberaKty and patriotism in the War of 1812, the Texan Eevolution and the Mexican War is on record; and were he living to-day, he would be faithful to the Union and true to the principles of the Constitution.

Nq^j;. - The cultivation of the cotton plant attracted his attention, and among Ins papei's of 1810 are calculations as to its culture and manufacture. He planted the first black seed in the Southv-cst (it had been "brought from the Bahamas), and he -n-as the first experimenter -with the hirsutum and the herbaceous in that locality.

Kenyon College And Theological Seminary

This yaliied institution of learning and religion was founded in this connty by tlie Et. Key. Philander Chase, first Bishoj) of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Ohio, upon Section one, Township siiir, and Eange twelve, U. S. Military Lands. The preliminary steps to its establishment were taken at Worthington, by commencing a school, in 1825, under an act of incorporation for a "Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio." In pursuance of this j)nrpose, Bp. 0. visited England, and obtained very liberal donations for the cause ; and the surpassing beauty of the present site secured its selection. In his annual address, 1826, he thus speaks: "July 22d. This day, for the first time, in comi)any with a number of gentlemen, I explored the lands now rendered so interesting to us on account of their many advantages for the location of the seminar}^ and college." Two of the gentlemen alluded to were Henry B. Curtis, Esq., and Daniel S. I^ortoh, whose statements in regard to that "interesting" occasion we have ; and that of the former, as published in the Kenyon CoUcgian, we. had designed giving entire, but our limits will not permit. In fact, we can only allude to the establishment of the college, with the promise of giving at an early day a complete history of the institution, its founder and benefactors, for which we liave now a large amount of interesting material in manuscript. The college lands, 4,000 acres, on both sides of the Kokosing, five miles below Mt. Yernon, were purchased of Wm. Hogg, Esq., of Brownsville, Pa., who made a generous donation in consideration of the object ; and by a unanimous vote of the Convention of 1826 the site of Ivenyou College was settled forever.

Yiews of Kenyon College, Ascension Hall, Bexley Hall, Milnor Hall and Bosse Chapel, the principal buildings of the Institution, appear in this work. They tell of the pious and devout labors of Bishop Chase, whose litliograph is also given, and of his very worthy successor. Bishop Mcllvaine, They also speak, more than tongiTc can tell, the liberality and nobleness of the Christian people of Great Britain and of the United States, who have been graciously moved to give of their abundance to this noble object. To Henry Clay, whose influential letters gave Bishop Chase access to the British heart, we are also deeply indebted.

Kenvon College to-dav stands erect, bavins: j)assed through many periods of tribulation and gloom. With an able corps of instructors, trustees and friends, zealously devoted to her interests, a bright future is before it. In our forthcoming work, we will prove, by showing what it has done for the country, that the expectations of its ^'i^iitls have, in great part, been realized.

on College Hill, commanding the most beautiful view in tlie whole country. The place is noted for health, as the Institution lias been for the thoroughness of its course of instruction. Among the verv able officers at the present time are - Kt. Rev. (x. T. BedeD, Eev. T. M. Smith, Rev. M. T. 0. Wing, Rev. J. J. McElhinney, of the Theological Faculty, and Professors John Trimble, H. L. Smith, B. L. Lang, Francis Wharton, H. D. Lathrop and (x. T. Chapman, of the College.

The Kenyon Grammar Schools in charge of Rca. A. Blake, at Gambler, and Rev. Peter S. Ruth, at Worthing-ton, are valuable adjuncts, and well sustained.

The Libraries of the College and the Philomathesian and !^u Pi Kappa Societies, containing over 15,000 volumes, and an abundant supply of literary food, are ever accessible to the student.

OxE of the " pliunn j" characters in our county's history is our okl friend Seeley Simpkins, who is now in his 70th year, and was born in West Jersey, the precise spot he doesn't know - nor is it material to the thread of this discourse. In 1804, when five years old, he was brought by his father from Morgantown, Ya., and his recollection of Mt. Yernon runs from the time Capt. Walker lived in a little log hut close by the old sulphur spring. Seeley says that its water had a great medicine reputation with the Indians. He was a great fayorite with the squaws and pappooses, by reason of his uncommon musical talent. He could mimic any sound of varmint or human, surpassed the lute of Orpheus, and out-whistled all creation. He furnished fJie music for early musters, and when it took four counties to make a regiment he gave a challenge to out-whistle any man within them. He recollects with much pride the encomiums of Adjutant Stilley, who, he says, was " the best judge of swill music then in the country." He frequented race tracks, and drew crowds and supplied hoe-downs on demand. For a long time he labored under the disadvantage of making his pilgrimages on foot, but having the good luck to hear at preaching that " Balaam took his ass and saddled

Mm," lie concluded to take tlie next tiling to it - his bull - and saddle and ride liim. He was a nice little muscular brute, raised by liini, and being gentle, was trained so that he ti'aveled right smart on Seeley's circuit. Often have we seen Seeley in all his gloiy ride to the mill with his grist, and ^yhile it was being ground he would take an airing around the town, whistling as he went. The races were usually on the flat front of ]!*5"oi'ton's mills, and there Seeley acquired " immortalit}^ and fame." On the occasion of a grand race, when the Critchfields, Sam. Arbuclde, and the Creek nation were in town in their strength, a race was gotten up by Hugh 'Neal, John Gregg, and John Kellifer, between Seeley's bull and Tom Irvine's horse. The stakes were up ; judges took their stand; and expectation on tiptoe was soon gi-atified by the entrance of the steeds. At starting, the little bull's tail received a sudden and severe twist, causing him to bellow lustily as Seeley with " vaulting ambition pricked the sides of his intent ;" »nd goaded to desperation, bull pawed the earth and sped on with all his might, while the air was rent with the shouts and yells of the spectators, frightening him almost out of his skin. The horse, altogether unused to such " noise and confusion," inclined to balk, shied to one side, and trembling from fear, could not be brought to the " outcome" in time, and the judges honestly pronounced in favor of Seeley's bull. Amid the applause of the large concourse, Seeley proudly mounted his charger, and as he stroked his neck, complacently

Seeley has done this, and his name is inscribed on the page of his country's history, to be remembered long after those who hare laughed at his career shall have been forgotten.

To THE Reader. - We rest - not insensible to the fact that we may, in your estimation, "have done those things which we ought not to have done, and left undone those things which we ought to have done;" but there is no help for it now. Our field was entirely new, and but very few papers are accessible at this early day in our history - the future writer will have still less, and this work may prove advantageous to those who succeed us. We have not souglit to enibtdlish, but simply to give plain statements of old matters. Several thousand families have been named, and omissions of any of the old si'ttlcrs have been unintentional. The multitude crowding upon us has caused us to give less notice to several of our best citizens than we designed. Errors, typographical and otherwise, niay exist ; attribute them to the peculiar circum- that surround us in these days of war and excitement, and join us in prayer for a return of the good old times of peace, prosperity and happiness.

Source changes here: from History Knox County, Ohio, by N. N. Hill., Jr, published 1881; 3,182 words in this source stream.

Clinton Township

Ordered, That the following bounds be laid off into a separate township: Beginning at the northeast corner of Wayne township; thence east to the west side of the eleventh range; thence south to the centre of the township; thence west to the west line of the twelfth range; thence south to the south line of the sixth towhship; thence west to the west line of the county, which shall be called_by the name of Clinton township.

The township thus constituted included Bloomfiield, now in Morrow county, Liberty, the north half of Pleasant, Monroe, Pike, and the south half of Morris. After various changes in the boundaries of the township the commissioners caused this entry to be made in their journal, March 9, 1825: "Clinton township shall be composed of the sixth towhship in the thirteenth range."

By this last order the area of the township was reduced to about twenty-five square miles of terri tory, which is well watered by Owl creek and its tributaries. The land is all tillable, and of good quality, a great portion of it being an alluvial deposit, highly cultivated.

One haif mile north of the residence of Morgan F. and Gilman B. Stilley may be seen a mound about fifteen feet high and twenty five yards in diameter, built of the same material as the surrounding soil. It was opened by Aaron Loveridge, but

To Andrew Craig belongs the honor of being the first white man to locate within the present limits of Clinton township. He came to Ohio from the mountain regions of Virginia' Like his native mountains, he was a rough, rugged, bold man, a regular frontier character, who took delight in hunting, wrestling, and kindred athletic sports. The exact time of his locating on Owl creek is not known, but it is certain that he,was in this section of Ohio when Ohio was in its territorial condition.

In September, 1801, Benjamin and John Butler went on an exploring expedition up the Kokosing as far as the mouth of Centre run, and camped over night about one hundred yards north of the creek bank, and about one half mile east of the present site of Mt. Vernon. There they found Andy Craig living in a little log hut, with a woman he had brought with him from the vicinity of Wheeling, Virginia. Not another white family at that time inhabited the entire country watered by the Kokosing and Mohican and their tributaries. An Indian chief and his tribe were encamped at the "Little Indian Fields" near by, and was having a grand pow-wow at the time. In the spring of 1805 Benjamin Butler returned to the country that had so charmed him in 1801, and found Andy Craig and the Indians still enjoying themselves. From long association with the Indians, and having so fallen into their customs and modes of life as to be almost identified with them, Craig could not brook the restraints of even such civilization as the white society of that day imposed upon him. So he cast his lot with his dusky friends, and im 1809 removed to Greentown.

About the year 1800 a tragedy was enacted on the point of the bluff between Centre run and Owl creek, which ended in the death of two persons, one white, the other a mulatto. Two slaves had run away from their master, one Tomlinson, who lived in Virginia, and coming into this part of the country had taken up with squaws. Their pursuers tracked them through Zanesville and up Owl creek, and finally came upon them at Andy Craig's. One of the boys, a mulatto, recognized his master's son as he approached with two other men, and sprang to the bank into the creek, pursued by the men, who overtook him in the middle of the stream, and a deadly struggle took place, in which he killed his young master, but was then overpowered, taken to the hut, tied, and shortly after placed on the horse his young master had ridden, and the company started for Virginia with him. The second night after leaving Craig's they built a camp fire and left the mulatto tied by it, when they went out for game. On their return he was found to have been shot. It is believed that they had become tired of taking him along, and as he was surly and troublesome, he was killed out of revenge for the loss of young Tomlinson.

Benjamin Butler related that on the occasion of his trip to Owl creek in 1801, Andy Craig told him the particulars of this fight, and that in 1805, when he made a visit to Sandusky plains, he saw the negro that escaped, who was then living with a squaw among the Indians, and talked with him about this affair.

Henry Haines, one of the members of the Pennsylvania colony, came to Knox county about 1803 or 1804 with his family, and settled in what is generally termed the Ten Mile settlement, the farm now owned by the Hon. Columbus Delano forming part of the colony's possessions. The land was first purchased by William Leonard, the patriarch of the settlement: Mr. Haines was one of the best men in the county at its organization in 1808. ' He was a native of Washington county,

Pennsylvania. -He was a man of education and property, and was, at the time of his melancholy death, in easy circumstances. He was a man of great ingenuity, and with a turning-lathe he had in his house, made many useful household articles.

Prior to 1825, the commissioners appointed the county treasurers. Mr. Haines was their first appointment, it having been made in the year 1808, shortly after the organization of the county. Mr. Haines held the office up to 1815, when he was succeeded by Mr. George Downs.

Mr. Haines became deranged on the subject of religion, and was at the time an active and leading member of the Christian denomination at that early day called New Lights. He officiated with James Smith in the first conference held in the county, of which David Young, of Zanesville, was presiding elder.

- town and county, day and night, notifying the people to prepare for judgment, as the world was coming toanend. He proclaimed the same doctrine in his insane moments as that ge ay promulgated by the Millerites.

When he became ungovernable he was taken to Dr. R. D. Moore, who confined him in a mad shirt, or straight jacket, and treated him for several weeks, until he was restored to reason; but he said if he ever became insane again he would kill Dr. Moore. Shortly after this the doctor removed to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Haines again became deranged, and was soon missed by his relatives and friends. Search was made for him, but with failure. His unexplained absence created considerable alarm. The first information that his family received of his whereabouts was in a letter from Dr. Moore. Haines had made his way to Connellsville for the purpose of killing the doctor, and had stolen the family silver spoons to pay his way. Upon his arrival at Connellsville he had become rational again, and he told the doctor what his purpose had been. Dr. Moore took the poor man to his home, cared for his wants, retained him for several weeks, and provided means for his return home. In the summer of 1817 the tin horn had ceased to be heard on the streets of Mt. Vernon for several days and nights. Haines had left his home once more. Word was brought to town that Hains was missing, and fears entertained that he had made away with himself. It was on Sunday, and nearly all the population of the village turned out to scour the woods adjacent to his farm. It was not until late in the afternoon that he was found, suspended from the limb of a small tree, about a quarter of a mile south of his residence on the Merritt farm. Thomas Kerr, now of Liberty township, was one of the searchers, and has a vivid recollection of the occurrence.

~ Robert Thompson, from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, ascended Owl creek in 1804, and selected a site for a farm two miles west of the public square in Mt. Vernon, now on the old Delaware road and occupied by Morgan F. and Gilman B. Stilley. Mr. Thompson was a surveyor, and was in July, 1805, employed by Butler, Patterson & Walker to survey the new town of Mt. Vernon. He spent the greater part of life on his farm, and he and his wife now sleep together on a httle knoll east of the old homestead.

John Mills was one of the parties who emigrated from Ten Mile, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, to the Harris settlement south of Mt. Vernon, 1n 1804.

On the fourteenth of February, 1808, the general assembly of Ohio by joint ballot appointed William W. Farquhar, John Mills and William Gass, associate judges for Knox county, and on the twenty-eighth of March of the same year, the commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice for Knox county appeared before John Mills, justice of the peace, and were qualified to perform their duties. Mr. Mills held the office of associate judge until May 9, 1814, when he was succeeded by Samuel Kratzer.

Peter Baxter was one of the original settlers in the Haines' settlement, and was a member ofthe first jury impanelled in the county - the jury that convicted William Hedrick, who was publicly whipped for stealing. Isaac Bonnett came to Clinton township in 1805, located north of the old Delaware road and built the first brick house in the township, now occupied by Albert Sharp.

About 1805 or before,the Haines settlement was augmented by the arrival of the Leonard family, and the last will and testament of William Leonard was the first instrument of that kind admitted to probate in the courts of Knox county.

Matthew Merritt came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and located on the land now occupied by Hon. Columbus Delano. Mr. Merritt was foreman of the first grand jury impanelled in Knox county, March 29, 1808, and in October of the same year he was elected county commissioner, for two years. Mr. Merritt was also elected justice of the peace for Clinton township in 1809.

The Beams, Lafevers, Walkers and others were also early settlers of Clinton township, but as their history is more closely identified with that of Mt. Vernon, it will be found in that connection.

Ebenezer and Abner Brown came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and located in the Haines settlement. Here they erected the first grist-mill in Knox county. It was a very primitive structure, and while it bore no outward resemblance to Solomon's temple, it was yet constructed '"'without the sound of the hammer upon iron." It was built entirely of wood; a sugartrough sufficed for a meal-box, and for want of iron the stones, which were about two feet in diameter, were hooped with slippery elm bark. It was propelled by water, and cracked corn very well when copious rains furnished sufficient motive power. The building was aBout ten feet square, constructed of rough logs, and was located on Delano's run, above the Martinsburgh road. It was principally. fed at that time by what was called the Little Lake, but the lake, like the mill, is a thing of the past, having been so drained and altered by ditching as to no longer be entitled to that appellation. This mill, although of the rudest possible construction, was sufficient to "amaze the gazing rustics round" with its wonderful mechanical perfection. The stones are still relics of ''ye olden time."

About the year 1815 a man named Wolgamott owned a small saw-mill on Delano's run, just below where the Martinsburgh road crosses the same. Later Walter Turner built a saw-mill on Owl creek, above the mouth of Center run, and James Newell erected one on Armstrong's run.

The Martin steam saw-mill, Mr. George R. Martin being proprietor, is located at the intersection of the Newark and Granville roads, near the city of Mount Vernon, and is the only manufacturing establishment in Clinton township, outside of the city limits. The first mill was erected on these grounds by the firm of Shipley, Martin & Hart, in 1854, where they manufactured all kinds of hard lumber up to 1856, when the mill was destroyed by fire. The firm soon erected a new and more complete mill on the old site. This mill they operated with entire success until after the close of the late war of the rebellion, the demand for hard lumber being up to the full capacity of the mill. After the war, business being dull, and little or no demand for their lumber, a change in the proprietorship took place, until Mr. George R. Martin became sole owner. The business was continued with more or less success, as the demand increased or decreased, until 1874, when fire again destroyed the mill. With his usual energy and business tact, Mr. Martin soon erected the present mill upon the old site where he continues to manufacture hard lumber of all kinds, fully equal to the demand.

In 1870 Robert Kelly and Byron Welch erected the Mount Vernon flax mills on the west bank of Owl creek, one and a half miles west of Mount Vernon. The main building is forty by seventy feet square. The engine-house is built of brick and is twenty by thirty feet in size. The buildings and machinery when ready to commence the manufacture of bagging for cotton bales, cost twenty-two thousand dollars.

Messrs Kelly & Welch operated the mills about five years, when, owing to the action of Congress in abolishing the tariff on jute, they failed in business, and at the assignees' sale Messrs. F. C. Wolf and Benjamin Martin purchased the mills for four thousand six hundred and seventy dollars. Wolf & Martin ran the mills two years, since which time they have been standing idle.

The first roads laid out through Clinton township were the following: A road from Mt. Vernon to the west line of the county, petitioned for by Samuel Kratzer and others. Ziba Leonard, Nathaniel Critchfield, and Joseph Coleman, were appointed viewers, and John Dunlap, . surveyor, and

The next was the Mt. Vernon and Newark road, petitioned for by John Dunlap and twenty-one others. William Gass, Henry Haines, and James Colville, were appointed viewers, and John Dunlap surveyor. The return to the county commissioners was made September 22, 1808. A road from Mt. Vernon to Francis Hardesty's was returned June 12, 1810. The State road from Cleveland to Columbus afterwards occupied very nearly the same ground. 'John Stilley's road" was laid out in 1814.

The old Delaware road was surveyed by the State in September, 1817, and laid out on very nearly the same ground as the first road from Mt. Vernon to the west line of the county. The new Delaware road was laid out by Frederick Avery, John Storm, and George Lewis, commissioners appointed by the State, and a copy of the survey filed in the office of the commissioners of Knox county, November 30, 1830.

The Ohio Register of May 7, 1817, contains the following account of an Indian murder which occurred in Clinton township the week previous. The murder took place at an Indian encampment a short distance north of where the present White bridge spans the creek at the west end of High street. The encampment was on the west side of the creek:

Some day last week a small party of Indians, principally of the Mohawk tribe, arrived in this town for the purpose of trading off their cranberries, etc., to the white people. They encamped on the west side of Owl creek, and remained there in apparent harmony until Friday last, when that arch enemy of the civilized and savage (whiskey) made his appearance among them. It appears that two of the Indians having become rather '"'cockoosey," began scuffling with each other through diversion, when a third (more intoxicated than the others) interfered, and fell upon Jim Wyandott, who took the rough salutations of his adversary in good part, until he became too severe, when he informed him that they two had only been diverting themselves; but the murderer, disregarding the protestations of the deceased, fell upon him with the greater fury, armed with a tomahawk, scalping-knife, and club, and finally succeeded in killing Wyandott by giving him a blow on the breast with the club. It appears that Wyandott, when he found that forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, made a strong resistance - but in vain!

Clinton township - outside of the city limits - has a population of nine hundred and twenty-six, six schools and a convenient number of good roads, Two railroads traverse its territory - the Lake Erie division of the Baltimore & Ohio road, and the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus road.

The first election was held in Mt. Vernon, and all subsequent elections until April, 1866, when the voting place was changed to the brick schoolhouse south of the Owl Creek bridge. At the last election Samuel Davis, John Boyd, and William McFadden were chosen trustees; R. N. Kindrick, treasurer; L. E. Huntsberry, clerk; Edward M. Knight and W. L. Vance, constables; F. M. Shaffer, assessor; W. L. King, Norman L. Wall, Ezra Thayer, Thomas Spearman, C. D. Rinehart, William L. Morey, and J. B. Steinmetz, board of education.

The following is a list of justices of the peace in and for Clinton township: John Mills, 1806; T. B. Patterson, 1808; Matthew Merritt, 1809; Samuel Kratzer, Silas Brown, and Allen Scott, 1811; James Smith and Benjamin Barney, 1815; Benjamin Martin and Stephen Chapman, 1817; John Roberts, 1818; William Y. Farquhar and Benjamin Martin, 1820; John Roberts, 1821; John H. Mefford, 1822; William Y. Farquhar, 1823; John Roberts, 1824; Joseph Brown and James McGibeny, 1825; John Roberts, 1826; Gideon Mott and William Bevans, 1830; S. W. Hildreth, 1831; William Bevans and Thomas Irvine, 1833; S. W. Hildreth, Johnson Elliott, and Thomas Irvine, 1836; Timothy Colopy, 1837; B. F. Smith and Robert F, Hickman, 1839; William Welsh, 1840; B. F. Smith, Robert F. Hickman, E. W. Cotton, 1842 ; William H. Cochran, 1843; Benjamin McCracken, 1845; E. W. Cotton, 1845; Nathaniel McGiffin, William H. Cochran, and Truman Ward, 1846; E. W. Cotton, 1848; William H. Cochran, 1849; Joseph S. Davis, 1850; E. W. Cotton, 1851; William H. Cochran, 1852; Joseph S. Davis, 1853; Thompson Cooper, 1854; Samuel O. Beach and William H. Cochran, 1855; Thompson Cooper, Thomas V. Parke, and William H. Cochran, 1858; Calton C. Baugh and Thomas Cooper, 1860; Henry Warner, 1861; Henry Phillips, 1863; Edmund V. Brent, 1864; Henry Phillips, 1866; John Y. Reeve, 1867; Thomas V. Parke, 1869; William Dunbar, 1870; Thomas V. Parke, 1872; B. A. F. Greer, 1873; Thomas V. Parke, 1875; John D. Ewing, 1876; Calton C. Baugh, 1878; John D. Ewing, 1879.