Coal Township

Coal Township

Coal township was originally a part of Salllick, and was struck off into a seperate township in 1872. It contains only thirteen sections and borders on Hocking county. The early history of Coal is inseparably connected with that of Saltlick, and the early history of that township necessarily includes that of Coal also, except as hereinafter related.

The building of the Straitsville branch of the Hocking Valley railroad, and the establishment of the town of New Straitsville, were the causes which led to the organization of the township of Coal.

New Straitsville was laid out in 1870, by the Straitsville Mining Company, and at once began to grow with a rapidity that no other new mining town in this section of the State had equaled. Large coal companies were organized, and the shipping of coal engaged in on a large scale. Coal-works, stores, shops, dwellings, and c hurches grew up as if by magic. Miners, mechanics, general laborers and business men, gathered from nearly all quarters of the globe. The population of the place increased wonderfully, and in a short time it appeared to be almost a city. It was duly incorporated, and otherwise prepared for permanent growth and lasting habitation. It contains a bank. post oflice, railroad station, telegraph offices, turnace, and stores. shops, etc.. corresponding with the population and business of the place. It also has a large union school-house of eight rooms, four churches and a number of costly private residences. The population of New Straitsville, according to the census of 1880. was 2782, and now probably exceeds 3000.

Straitsville (the old town.) situated about one mile from New Straitsville, was Jaid out in 1835 by Jacob and Isaac Strait. The village is pleasantly situated on a broad and commanding ridge, ov erlooking much of the surrounding country. It grew slowly. however, and for many years, had simply a postoflice, store or two, tavern, and church, and less than one hundred inhabitants. Though only an unimportant country village, it is historic ground, for there the first three years company of volunteers in the county rendezvoused and drilled. before they came to New Lexington to take the cars for the seat of war. Straitsville and surrounding country was a faverite recruiting ground. which kept far ahead of its quota, and the dark shadow of a draft never fell upon its homes, though no part of the State, so far as is known, gave a greater percentage of its population to fight for the Nation's life, and the mortal remains of a large number of them sleep in the soil which their valor helped save to Liberty and Union. Truly, these considerations should make the old village of Straitsville historic ground. The old tavern mentioned is gone, but the village now bas a good

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ire} | schoolhouse of two large rooms, a Baptist church, and post office, which is now called Sheldon. A branch of the Hocking Valley railroad comes up to a mine about a fourth of a mile from the town. Straitsville had, by the census of 1880, a population of 308. '

The Methodists organized a society, and built what was long known as the "Harbaugh Meeting House," at an early day. It was a regular appointment in the Ohio Conference, and was, for many years, a strong and influential congregation. The Harbaugh church stood in what is now the suburbs of New Straitsville. After the town was laid out, the congregation decided to build within the town limits, and the old 'Meeting House" was abandoned and torn down.

The Baptists organized a society, and erected a log church in Old Straitsville, at a very early day. After a few years, the old log church gave place to a new frame building, which is vet in use.

The churches in New Straitsville are, of course, all of more recent origin. The Catholic church, which is a large brick structure, was builtin 1871. The M. E. church, a frame building of good dimensions, was erected in 1872. The Welsh Baptist and Disciple churches were built in 1880. The society of Primitive Methodists have not yet built, but worship at Odd Ifellow's Hall. The Methodist Protestant congreation have no building of their own, but hold regular services at Kohn's Hall. All of these churches have Sabbath schools connected with them, which schools are said to be in a flourishing condition.

New Straitsville has a Masonic Lodge, an Odd Fellows' Lodge and a Lodge of the Knights of Labor. 'The last named has an extraordinary list of members, said to embrace four or five hundred persons.

Coal township abounds in iron ore as well as coal. There is a good market for the ore at Bessie Furnace, situated in the suburbs of New Straitsville.

The Straitsville coal has a reputation equal to any in the State, and the output is most of the time very large. The statement is made, which +s doubtless correct, that New Straitsville ships more coal than any other one point tributary to the Hocking Valley railroad.

For a small, inland township, the population of Coal is very Cosmopolitan. It consists chiefly of English, Irish, Welsh, Scotch and American-born; witha considerable sprinkling of other nationalities, including a comparatively small number of persons of African descent.

There were, a few years ago, very serious troubles at New Straitsville between the miners and operators. but latterly strikes have been of infrequent occurrence and of short duration. As a general thing, capitalists, operators and miners appear to work together with a_ fair degree of harmony. '

New Straitsville is a first-class market for much of the neighboring country in Perry, Hocking and Athens counties; but, after all that can be done, much of the produce consumed by the people is shipped in from other parts of the country. There is little attention given to agriculture, in the near vicinily of the town. The land is not adapted to such a pursuit, and if it were, it is now nearly all the property of coal companies, and has been thrown out as commons. The population of Coal township in 1880 was, including villages, 3836.

Chapter Uxxv

Harrison township was named in honor of General Wm. I]. Harrison, and was organized as a separate political township. in 1820. Previous to that time it was attached to Clayton. The territory comprising it, before the organization of Perry county, belonged to Muskingum. Harrison is nota full township, and contains only twenty-four sections.

The territory comprising it lies wholly on the Muskingum slope, and is drained by the waters of the South Fork of Moxahala and tributaries, chief of which are McLuney, Black's Fork, Buckeye, Burley's Run and Wigton's Run. About one-third of the township is extremely hilly, the remainder principally level or gently rolling. Vhe greater part of the soil is fairly productive, and the land is well watered. The landholders are mostly engaged in general farming, stock raising and wool growing. Some of the best sheep in the county are in [arrison township.

Itis rich in minerals. Coal No. 5 and No. 6 underlie nearly the whole township, except in the low valleys. Coal mining has been extensively carried on, at and near McLuney and Crooksville for several years - at the first named point for quite a long time. The coal has been shipped far and near, stands well in market, and has a good sale. Much of the township is also rich in iron ore, but there has not been much practical development of this mineral. A considerable portion of Harrison has a valuable seam of potter's clay. which has been well tested and. worked for a long time. The manufacture of potter's ware is a very considerable industry at various points in the township. There are also seams of fire clay, but these have been but little developed.

'The first permanent settlement appears to have been made in Harrison about 1806, several families coming about the same time. It is claimed that James Clark, who owned land on both sides of what is now the county line, came in 1799 or 1800, and built a cabin on the Perry county side, residing there for a number of years before settling on the Muskingum side. Clark, afterward, was a State Senator, Justice of the Peace, and kepta tavern at Roseville, (then called Milford,) at an early day. The Wliffs, Brumages, Burleys, Dusenberries. Roses. Holcombs, Dennis', Hightshces and Hitchcocks were among the first settlers. The' following named _ persons were living in the township as early as 1816 or 1817: John Ihiff, William Iliff, John Dusenberry, John Burley, John Brumage, W. McCaslin, John C. Cox, James Spurgeon, William Combes, Joseph Taylor, Hugh Lennington, Jacob Reed, James Mumford, M. Plummer, William Turner, James Iliff, Nicholas Hitchcock, James Rose, Tubba Taylor, John Hough, Israel Hitchcock, Wm.

The first church in the township was the Hiff church, a log building erected in 1819 or 1820, by the Methodist episcopal denomination. A class had been previously organized, which met mostly at the house of Jacob Holcomb, who resided on the sixteenth section. The Hiff church prospered, and about 1852, built anew frame church. Rev T. C. Lif, a prominent minister of the M. E. Church, is from this place. The next church in the township was built at Roseville, for the use of all denominations of Christians, and was so used fora long time, and until the several sects erected their own houses of worship.

The Presbyterian Society at Roseville was organized in 1849, at the old house on cemetery hill, which was open to all denominations. The society was organized by a committee appointed by the Presbytery of ane On and continued to worship at the house named, unui the erection of their own church in 1859. This building was dedicated free from debt, and a large congregation was present to hear the dedicatory sermon, preached by Rev. Kingsbury of Putnam. Rev. Tlenry Beeman of New Lexington has been pastor of the church since 1866; previous to that date, the pastoral connection had frequently changed, and, at certain periods the pulpit was vacant, except when visited by a clergyman of some neighboring charge. ;

The Methodist Protestants organized a congregation and built a.church at Roseville, about twenty vears ago, which is stJi in use, and a regular appointment of the denomination.

The Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a church cdifice, known as Mount IHoreb, in the northern part of Harrison township, about 1832, which was a regular appointment of the church for about twenty-five years. The congregation, in connection with other persons, finally built a church in Saltillo, Clayton township, and the Mount Horeb charge was discontinued.

The Catholics erected a fine brick church edifice near the northern border of Harrison township, in 1851. The principal portion of the congregation had previously worshipped at Rehoboth, im Clayton towntownship. The congregation is a large one, has a_ resident pastor and regular services. There is a very numerous Catholic population 1n the vicinity. oe ae

A United Brethren Church, near McLuney Station, has been in existence some twenty or thirty years, has a neat, commodious house of worship, and maintains regular church services.

from McLuney Creek. It has a railway station, post office, stores and church. A number of pofteries are in the town or near vicinity. There are also mills in the suburbs or near vicinity. The coal mines at this point are extensively worked and coal shipped to distant markets. The mines are principally in seam No. 6, but No. 5 is also mined to some extent. The coal of both seams is a good marketable commodity, though differing somewhat in quality from each other. McLuney had in 1880 a population of sixty-six, though with the suburban inhabitants would doubtless count considerably more.

Crooksville, situated two miles east of McLuney, on the C. & M. V.R.R., was established about 1874, and soon became a considerable point for coal mining. It has also several potteries, and a large quantity of potters' ware is manufactured there, most of which is sold in distant markets. The town has a railway station, post office, store, etc. Crooksville does not appear in the census reports as a separate village, but it is justly entitled to recognition as such, and has a population of about one hundred inhabitants.

Roseville is situated chiefly on the Muskingum county side, but the railway station, several churches, a number of potteries, and twenty or thirty private dwellings are on the Perry side, in Harrison township. The population of Roseville is about five hundred, of which the census returns ninety-six as in Harrison township, Perry county. Most of the buildings on the Perry side are new, and if Roseville continues to improve, it is'likely to extend still further on the Perry county side.