Deerfield Township

Deerfield Township

Ax Old Township - The First Justice - Early Elections - Names of Voters and Canim dates - Character of the Inhabitants - A Permanent Population - An Honorable Record - Pioneer Life - Hunting - Family Sketches - The Saylors - Stanberys, Moodys, Masseys and Other Early Settlers - The Village of Triadelphia - The First Anti- Slavery Society in the County - Its Organization in 1836 - Names of Its Members - Churches of Deerfield.

DEERFIELD Township is older than Morgan County ; for, prior to the erection of the county, the township was one of the largest of the civil divisions of Washington County. William Massey, the first justice of the peace of whom we have any account, was probably elected to his office while the township was still a part of Washington County. The earliest record now discoverable of an election in the township shows that on the 5th of February, 1820, an election was held at the house of John Breeze for the purpose of choosing a justice of the peace in place of William Massey, resigned.

At this election John Shutt, William McKitrick and Josiah Wright acted as judges ; and Samuel Aiken and Jeremiah Weston, clerks. (McKitrick and Weston belonged in that part of the township which subsequently became a part of the township of Union.) At this election forty votes were cast by the following voters :

Doubtless the above list includes the names of nearly all male citizens of the township at the time the election was held. Of the number of votes, John Price received 30; William McKitrick, 4; Elijah Ball, 3, and John Morris and Samuel Saylor 1 each.

In the following year Samuel Stanbery was elected justice; and at this election the following persons voted, in addition to those on the above list : Joseph Edwards, Thomas Campbell, Enoch Winched, Samuel Stanbery, Levi Lightle, Samuel Walker, Jonathan Edgington, Thomas Parks and Hugh Nixon.

In May of the same year another election was held, the preceding one having been declared invalid for the reason that John Price, a candidate for the office of justice, acted as a judge of election. Additional voters: John

The pioneer history of this township contains nothing extraordinary or remarkably interesting. There were the usual hardships and privations, but the settlers were of a sturdy, determined character and faithfully performed their duties against all disadvantages.

"Perhaps," remarks Judge Gaylord in his reminiscences, " there is no township in the county that has had less changes in its original proprietors than Deerfield. Where the pioneers originally established themselves, there most of them sojourned until removed by death. This is in part accounted for by the fact that the soil is not quite so inviting to the enterprising agriculturists as that of other townships; yet it is durable and in some parts quite productive. This township in the course of the last fifty years has brought forth quite a, number of gifted men, who, in the professions, in the various business enterprises in the county, have become prominent. In law, gospel and physic her sons are somewhat prominent, and some of them hold high positions in their professions in their several localities. She has sent forth a troop of active business men scattered here and there throughout the land. Deerfield may well lie proud of the position she holds; and if her soil is not as productive as other parts of the county, she has not been derelict in the production of men, who, in the active turmoils and labors of life, have shown themselves well able to play their parts to admiration:"

Silas Saylor is one of the pioneers of Deerfield, one of the few whom Father Time has seen fit to leave as a relic of a generation that has gone. In the picture gallery of his memory he is still able to discern a faded representation of Deerfield as it was sixty-eight years ago. In October of 1818 he came into the township with his parents, his sister and a brother-in-law, Benjamin Weimer. At this time, he says, Deerfield was almost a wilderness; a few hardy settlers had made "little holes in the forest" in which to construct their cabins. A man by the name of James Reed had a little distillery, which kept the pioneers supplied with what was then considered a necessity for those who were exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, and an indispensable article to those engaged in the performance of severe labor. Reed also had a handmill, which was patronized by the settlers in the immediate vicinity. John Price was the blacksmith ; lie sharpened the plowshares, welded the logchains and shod the horses of those wealthy settlers who could boast of the possession of these valuable animals.

which place Silas, his son, was a native. On his settlement in Deerfield, Silas became a professional hunter, and for a time kept the new-comers supplied with venison and any other kinds of game they might desire. Mr. Whitaker was a fellow-hunter, and from their hunting expeditions they derived quite an income. Mr. Saylor says that for buck carcasses they received $1.25 ; for does' the price was much less. The hides they tanned and disposed of to the settlers, by whom they were used in the making of moccasins and other articles of clothing. Deer were very numerous, and Mr. Saylor states that with one gun lie killed 618. Corn-bread and venison Avere the principal articles of diet. Although their surroundings were dismal, still they were in a degree contented and happy. Just in the bloom of young manhood, they Avere full of hope, and looked forward to the time when their pioneer days would be over, and surrounded by their families they could pass the remainder of their days in "peace and plenty." The Avife of Mr. Saylor, nee Miss Ann Pettit, Avas born in NeAv Jersey and came to Ohio Avith her parents in an early day. They first settled in Muskingum County, and from thence removed to Malta Township, Morgan County, in 1820.

Samuel Stanbery, one of the early settlers in Deerfield ToAvnship, was born at Morristown, 1ST. J., in 1777. lie was married in 1800 to Phoebe Wyckoff, who died in 1809. ITe Avas again married to Sarah Homans, and shortly thereafter removed with his family to Fayette County, Pa. In 1819 he moved to Ohio, spent the first Avinter in Zanesville, and the next spring moved to the farm iioav OAvned by John F. Wood- Avard, east of Triadelphia, Avliere he lived until his death, in December, 1825, leaving a widow and eleven children - Robert, Jacob M., Sarah H., Phoebe, Mary, John, Joel, Ira, Ezra, Harriet and Elizabeth. In the few years that he lived in Deerfield he made many friends. He Avas largely instrumental in the organization of the Deerfield Presbyterian Church and Avas one of its first elders.

Joab Jones Avas one of the pioneers of 1816. When a young man he came to the " Ohio Country " and settled in Athens County ; from thence he Avent to Marietta, Avhere he remained a short time, Avhen he emigrated to Morgan County, Deerfield Township.

Isaac Whitaker Avas one of the early pioneers of Deerfield Township. lie Avas born in Maryland in 1789, and in 1803 came to Zanesville, Ohio. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1816 came to Morgan ; County with his family of Avife and one child and settled in Deerfield ToAvnship. His Avife, whose maiden name was Hannah Rees, was a native of Loudon County, Virginia, where she Avas born in 1795. They reared a family of eleven children, ten of whom are living. Mr. Whitaker identified himself prominently with the early history of Deerfield Township. He died in 1869, aged eighty ; his wife in 1885, at the extreme age of ninety years.

Samuel Moody Avas a man Avho left his imprint indelibly stamped upon the annals of the township. He Avas born in 1783 in Maine, from Avliich State he came with his family in 1818, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 6. With him came his family of Avife and fhTe children - Alsadania, Noah, Priscilla, Stillman and Nathan. He Avas the pioneer on the section on which he settled, his neighbors being Josiah Wright, Jonathan Adams and Isaac Whitaker. Like most of the pioneers, Mr. Moody was in an impecunious condition on his arrival in the county. It is a family tradition that, after leaving Zanesville, he had only one coin left, a Spanish milled dollar. Although many times severely pressed for money, lie could never be induced to part with it, and it is still preserved by some member of the family as an heirloom. Mr. Moody was a very valuable acquisition to Deerfield's population. He was a shoemaker by trade, and for some years went from house to house, as was the custom in those days, making and repairing the shoes of the settlers' families. He also ministered to their spiritual wants. lie was a Baptist in his religious belief, and for many years he preached through Morgan and adjoining counties, frequently extending his travels into Virginia. Ilis wife was an excellent lady. She was born in 1787 and became the mother of eight children, three of whom were born in the county - Smith (4., Lydia A. and John F. She died in 1866, her husband in 1873, aged ninety years. Smith G. Moody is a native of the township; for many years he was a merchant of Triadelphia, and for a quarter of a century was postmaster. lie M married iss Olive P. Wise in 1848. She was born near Deavertown.

William Massey was a Friend. He came from Chester County, Pa., in 1816, and entered three quarter-sections of land, part of which is now in Malta Township. In 1819 he married Miss Sarah Gay, and reared a family of six children - Levi, Mary, Asa, John, Caroline and Sally. .John was born in Malta in 1825 and has been a resident

! of the county ever since. He was a soldier during the war of the rebellion and left his family to care for themselves. During his absence Mrs. Massey not only cared for the family, but took charge of the farm. She did much of the farm labor herself in addition to her household cares. She is a type of the noble, patriotic women to whom the people are indebted.

James Crawford was an early settler on Wolf Creek. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and at nn early day located in Muskingum County, from whence he came to Morgan County about 1820. He was a blacksmith by occupation, and brought with him a j stock of cowbells, expecting they would find a ready sale among the pioneers ; but owing to the scarcity of money he found no sale for them. He reared a family of ten children. Mary married John Massey in 1849. He died in 1858.

Hugh Nixon was an Irishman, and came from Ohio County, W. Va., about twenty miles below Wheeling. With him came his family, consisting of his wife and four children - Frances, Ann J., Joseph W. and John W. He was prominent among the pioneers and was the first settler on the northeast quarter of Section 28. He was one of the early justices of the peace of the township, and for nine years he occupied the position continuously. He was a devout member of the Methodist Church, and was ('very where highly esteemed. Of his children three are living in the county - Mrs. William Hopkins, Eliza A., and Joseph W, who lives on a part of the old estate.

About 1816 Joseph Anderson, then a young man, settled on the farm now j owned by his son, Joseph, Jr. Several years after, his father, Augustine, from

Sussex County, New Jersey, came to the township. He was an officer in the war of the revolution, and died in the township when in his eighty-eighth year.

Jacob Tedrow came from Washington County, Pa. He located a tract of land in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1807, where he remained until 1817, when he came to what is now Deerfield Township, where lie entered a quartersection. He did not identify himself with the development of the township except as a farmer. He went to Athens County in 1837. and died in Hocking County about 1870. Michael, his son, was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1809, and has been a resident of the township for fifty-two years. He married Sarah Prine. She was born in Mercer County, Pa., in 1811. In 1812 her parents came to Muskingum Couny, Ohio, where she was reared and married. Of the family of Jacob Tedrow, Michael is the only one now living in the county. He is one of the pioneers in the section of the township in which he resides.

Triadelpliia, the only village in the township, is situated a little north of the center. It was laid out in 1838 by A. Roberts. The plat consisted of twenty-six lots, Main street and Juniper and High streets crossing it at right angles. At present there are some ten or twelve dwellings, one school-house, two churches, one dry -goods store and a blacksmith shop.

The Walpoles are lineal descendants of Sir Robert Walpole, of England. Martin Walpole came from County Cavan, Ireland, about 1809, and for a time lived in New York, and came thence to Morgan County. At the time of his settlement there were only two families in the township. For a year he lived alone, at the end of which time he was joined by his wife and family. The story of his pioneer experiences sounds more like fiction than fact. His cabin was ten by twelve feet; for a chimney lie had a large stump in the center; a suspended quilt formed the door, and often at night the wolves would pull the quilt aside and look in. and but for the fire would have entered. He was a man of powerful physique, and on one occasion he killed a bear with no other weapon than a handspike ; at another time he found a panther among his sheep, and killed it in the same manner. He had three sons and three daughters. Mathew Walpole, a son, and one of the prominent citizens of the township of Malta, was born in Morgan County October 24, 1824. Martin Walpole died May 24, 1847 ; his wife, Margaret, died September 30, 1855. The farm he first entered is still in possession of the family, also the prayerbook, which in pioneer days afforded him much consolation.

In 1836 the first anti-slavery society in Morgan County, and perhaps the first in Southeastern Ohio, was formed in Deerfield Township. The anti-slavery movement was at this time in its infancy, and it required no small amount of moral courage to espouse the cause of the black man. Many of the members of this organization lived to see the principles they advocated triumph. The following are the articles of association and names of the members :

" Preamble. - Believing slavery to be a sin against God, a violation of human rights, and an obstruction to the cause of Christianity, by making it the patron of sin and exciting the derision of opposers, believing that it consigns the slave to degradation, suffering and despair, surrounds the masters with perils, and exposes all who uphold the system to the judgment of God, and believing that we owe it to the oppressed, to our fellow-citizens who hold slaves, to our country, to human interests universally, to posterity and to God, earnestly to seek the abolition of slavery by using such means, and such only as are sanctioned by the laws of the land and by the dictates of humanity and justice : we do hereby agree to form ourselves into a society to aid in the accomplishment of this object and to be governed bv the following constitution :

"Article 2. The object of this society shall be the entire abolition of slavery throughout the United States and the elevation of our colored brethren to their proper rank as men. While admitting that the several States have, by our federal constitution, the exclusive right to legislate for the abolition of slavery in their respective limits, it maintains that it is our imperative duty to collect and diffuse facts and information upon the subject, and by all lawful means to convince our fellow-citizens throughout the Union that it is a heinous sin against God, at war with the principles of human liberty, ruinous to our national morals and prosperity, and that the duty, safety and interests of all concerned, require its utter and immediate abolition."

Deerfield Presbyterian Ch urc/i. - This church is one of the oldest religious societies in the county. It was organized in 1819 by Rev. Thomas Moore.

The first members were Samuel Stanbery, Jacob Price and wife, T. ('ampbell and wife, -I. Wright and wife, and S. Price, and three others whose names are not now remembered, making eleven in all. October 6, 1821, Samuel Stanbery, Thomas Campbell and Josialt Wright were ordained elders. The present membership is seventy -two ; number of Sabbath-school scholars, thirtvfive. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Thomas P. Moore, John Hunt, Plumstead, - Aiken and Ferguson. Since 1858 the preaching has been by supplies, of whom twelve have labored at various times, from one to two vears each. The first pastor, Rev. Thomas Moore, was a- tall, spare man, grave and dignified. His dress wasof the ancient kind. He wore knee-breeches and kneebuckles, and his sermons, like his -dress, reminded one of the olden times. The organization of the society was due to the efforts of Samuel Stanbery, a man whose genial disposition and upright life won the respect of the entire community. The little pioneer church grew thrifty and strong, and in 1822 a log church 24x28 feet was built near the site of the present one, and Rev. John Hunt was secured as pastor. He left the field in 1831. In 1839 the old log church was removed and a frame building took the place, which after a time was thought to be unsafe, and in 1859 a new one took its place. This church was burned in 1877, and the present edifice built the same year. Four of the members of the congregation were soldiers in the war of the rebellion and lost their lives in the defense of their country - James Bailey, Asa Massey, Joel Walker and -fames Robb.

Ihe Locust Grove M. E. Church. - The Locust Grove Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the south part of Deerfield Township. Services were first held at the house of Hugh Nixon. About 1826 a hewed log church was erected, the cost of construction beingfifty bushels of wheat. It was formally dedicated by Bishop Norris. Jn 1844 a frame church took its place. This church was burned in 1868, and the present church structure was built in 1869. Among the early preachers were men prominent in the annals of Methodism. Notably among the number were Messrs. Trimble, Gavitt, Hamilton and Stewart.

Christian Church. - The Christian Church of Deerfield was organized October 9, 1884, by Dr. O. \V. Thompson. The names of the first officers were: S. G. Moody and William

Banks, elders ; George Banks and Thomas Holcomb, deacons; T. -I. Masterson, clerk; Henry Massey, George W Piclcrell and George S. Gregg, trustees, and seventy-eight members. The present church was built in October, 1884. is 34x42 feet, costing $1,500. The first pastor was Rev. A. R. Pickens. The present membership of the church is thirty-eight; number of Sabbathschool scholars, fifty.

Biographical Forster Edwards

Forster Edwards was born in Manchester, Mass., in 1793. During the war of 1812, for prudential reasons, his father removed his family to the State of Maine. Here young Forster remained until about 1816, when, learning of the fertility of the " Ohio Country," and of the advantages to be secured by settlement, lie determined to visit the new Eldorado, which he did in the autumn of that year. While crossing the mountains he had an adventure with a robber who tried to waylay him with a stone. Mr. Edwards being armed, the robber was repulsed, and he continued his way unmolested. He was favorably impressed with the new country and selected the northeast quarter of Section 10 as his future home. Making a brief visit to his old home, he returned the following year and commenced the improvement of his property. August 15, 1819, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas Rees, one of the early settlers of Muskingum County. Both were residents of the township until their deaths - the former in 1871, the latter in 1885. They reared a family of three daughters - Mary J., Hannah and Susan E. Mary J. became Mrs. James Southard, Hannah married Thomas Holcomb, and Susan B., James Cunningham. Mr. Edwards was a man of strong religious convictions. lie identified himself with the Protestant Methodist Church, and for many years he was a minister of that faith.

William Massey

The genealogy of the Massey family in America dates back to the advent of William Penn, at which time the first of the name is supposed to have come from England. Levi, the father of William Massey, was born in Chester County, near Philadelphia, and learned the saddler's trade, which he followed as his principal occupation through life. He married Catherine Evason, who was of Welsh descent, but born near Philadelphia. Seven children were born of this union - George, Thomas, John, Mary, Sarah (Baker), Phebe (Mellon) and William. The parents were members of the Society of Friends and the children were reared in the faith of that society.

William Massey was not only one of the pioneers, hut also one of the best known citizens of Morgan County, lie was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 28, 1785. lie learned his father's trade and pursued it until nearly twenty years of age. He then engaged for a time in mercantile pursuits. But tailing health warned him that he needed employment which would give him more exercise in the open air, and he wisely decided to become a farmer. As the field of his future labors, he looked to the new and remote West, and decided upon locating in the " ( Him Country." Sending on his goods by wagon, he came on horseback, and in the year 1816 arrived in Deerfield Township, Morgan County, where he entered three quarter-sections of land. He at once entered upon the work of the pioneer settler, erected his cabin and began his dealing on the farm now owned by William Kent. The following winter he taught school, having pupils who came from far and near, some of them residing as far away as Triadelphia. Working earnestly at bis clearing, he made considerable progress, and each season saw his fields extending wider. January 14, 1819, he married Miss Sarah Gay. She was born in the State of Maine and came to Ohio in 1813, settling at Brownsville, Muskingum County. William Massey and wife led the quiet, uneventful life of pioneer settlers, bravely doing their duty, though oft encountering hardships, but, ou the whole, prospering reasonably well. They had seven children : Levi, Nancy, Mary, Asa, John. Caroline and Sally. Levi married first. Harriet Stanberv ; second, A bio-ail Cope; he resides in Malta Township. Nancy died at nine years of age. Mary is the wife of Joseph Nixon and resides in Deerfield Township. Asa

Source changes here: from History of Morgan County, Ohio, by Charles Robertson, M. D, published 1886; 4,029 words in this source stream.

Deerfield Township

An Old Township - The First Justice - Early Elections - Names of Voters and Candi dates - Character of the Inhabitants - A Permanent Population - An Honorable Record - Pioneer Life - Hunting - Family Sketches - The Saylors - Stanberys, Moodys, Masseys and Other Early Settlers - The Village of Triadelphia - The First Anti- Slavery Society in the County - Its Organization in 1836 - Names of Its Members - Churches of Deerfield.

DEERFIELD Township is older than Morgan County; for, prior to the erection of the county, the township was one of the largest of the civil divisions of Washington County. William Massey, the first justice of the peace of whom we have any account, was probably elected to his office while the township was still a part of Washington County. The earliest record now discoverable of an election in the township shows that on the 5th of February, 1S20, an election was held at the house of John Breeze for the purpose of choosing a justice of the peace in place of William Massey, resigned.

At this election John Shutt, William McKitrick and Josiah Wright acted as j judges ; and Samuel Aiken and Jeremiah Weston, clerks. (McKitrick and Weston belonged in that part of the township which subsequently became a part of the township of Union.) At this election forty votes were cast by the following voters :

Doubtless the above list includes the names of nearly all male citizens of the township at the time the election was held. Of the number of votes, John Price received 30; William McKitrick, 4; Elijah Hall, 3, and John Morris and Samuel Savior 1 each.

In the following year Samuel Stanbery was elected justice; and at this election the following persons voted, in addition to those on the above list: Joseph Edwards, Thomas Campbell, Enoch Winched, Samuel Stanbery, Levi Lightle, Samuel Walker, Jonathan Edgington, Thomas Parks and Hugh Nixon.

In May of the same year another election was held, the preceding one having been declared invalid for the reason that John Price, a candidate for the office of justice, acted as a judge of election. Additional voters: John

The pioneer history of this township contains nothing extraordinary or remarkably interesting. There were the usual hardships and privations, but the settlers were of a sturdy, determined character and faithfully performed their duties against all disadvantages.

"Perhaps," remarks Judge Gaylord in his reminiscences, "there is no town- 1 ship in the county that has had less changes in its original proprietors than Deerfield. Where the pioneers originally established themselves, there most of them sojourned until removed by death. This is in part accounted for by the fact that the soil is not quite so inviting to the enterprising agriculturists as that of other townships; yet it is durable and in some parts quite productive. This township in the course of the last fifty years has brought forth quite a number of gifted men, who, in the professions, in the various business enterprises in the county, have become prominent. In law, gospel and physic , her sons are somewhat prominent, and some of them hold high positions in their professions in their several localities. She has sent forth a troop of active business men scattered here and there throughout the land. Deerfield may well be proud of the position she holds; and if her soil is not as productive as other parts of the county, she has not been derelict in the production of men, who, in the active turmoils and labors of life, have shown themselves well able to play their parts to admiration."

Silas Saylor is one of the pioneers of Deerfield, one of the few whom Father Time 1ms seen fit to leave as a relic of a generation that has gone. In the picture gallery of his memory he is still able to discern a faded representation of Deerfield as it was sixty-eight years ago. In October of 1818 he came into the township with his parents, his sister and a brother-in-law, Benjamin Weimer. At this time, he says, Deerfield was almost a wilderness; a few hardy settlers had made "little holes in the forest'* in which to construct their cabins. A man by the name of James Reed had a little distillery, which kept the pioneers supplied with what was then considered a necessity for those who were exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, and an indispensable article to those engaged in the performance of severe labor. Reed also had a handmill, which was patronized by the settlers in the immediate vicinity. John Price was the blacksmith ; he sharpened the plowshares, welded the logchains and shod the horses of* those wealthy settlers who could boast of the possession of these valuable animals.

which place Silas, his son, was a native. On his settlement in Deerfield, Silas I became a professional hunter, and for a j time kept the new-comers supplied with | venison and any other kinds of same | they might desire. Mr. Whitaker was j a fellow-hunter, and from their hunting expeditions they derived quite an income. Mr. Saylor says that for buck | carcasses they received $1.25 ; for does' ! the price was much less. The hides j they tanned and disposed of to the set- I tiers, by whom they were used in the making of moccasins and other articles of clothing. Deer were very numerous, and Mr. Savior states that with one gun he killed 618. Corn -bread and venison were the principal articles of diet. Al- | though their surroundings were dismal, still they were in a degree contented and happy. Just in the bloom of young manhood, they were full of hope, and looked forward to the time when their pioneer days would be over, and surrounded by their families they could pass the remainder of their days in u peace and plenty." The wife of Mr. I Saylor, nee Miss Ann Pettit, was born in New Jersey and came to Ohio with her | parents in an early day. They first | settled in Muskingum County, and from thence removed to Malta Township, Morgan County, in 1820. I

Samuel Stanbery, one of the early settlers in Deerfield Township, was born at Morristown, N. J., in 1777. He was married in 1800 to Phoebe Wyckoff, who died in 1809. He was again married to Sarah Homans, and shortly | thereafter removed with his family to Fayette County, Pa. In 1819 he moved to Ohio, spent the first winter in Zanesville, and the next spring moved to the farm now owned by John F. Wood- 1 ward, east of Triadelphia, where he lived until his death, in December, 1825, leaving a widow and eleven children - Robert, Jacob M., Sarah H., Phoebe, Mary, John, Joel, Ira, Ezra, Harriet and Elizabeth. In the few years that he lived in Deerfield he made many friends. He was largely instrumental in the organization of the Deerfield Presbyterian Church and was one of its first elders.

Joab Jones was one of the pioneers of 1816. When a young man he came to the " Ohio Country " and settled in Athens County ; from thence he went to Marietta, where he remained a short time, when he emigrated to Morgan County, Deerfield Township.

Isaac Whitaker was one of the early pioneers of Deerfield Township. He was born in Maryland in 1789, and in 1803 came to Zanesville, Ohio. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1816 came to Morgan County with his family of wife and one child and settled in Deerfield Township. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Rees, was a native of Loudon County, Virginia, where she was born in 1795. They reared a family of eleven children, ten of whom are living. Mr. Whitaker identified himself prominently with the early history of Deerfield Township. He died in 1869, aged eighty ; his wife in 1885, at the extreme age of ninety years.

Samuel Moody was a man who left his imprint indelibly stamped upon the annals of the township. He was bom in 1783 in Maine, from which State he came with his family in 1818,* and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 6. With him came his family of wife and five children - Alsadania, Noah, Priscilla, Stillman and Nathan. He was the pioneer on the section on which lie settled, his neighlxirs l>eing of the county ever since. He was a Josiah Wright, Jonathan Adams and | soldier during the war of the rebellion Isaac Whitaker. Like most of the and left his family to care for thempioneers, Mr. Moody was in an impe- selves. During his absence Mrs. Massey cunious condition on his arrival in the not only cared for the family, but took county. It is a family tradition that, charge of the farm. She did much of after leaving Zanesville, he had only j the farm labor herself in addition toiler one coin left, a Spanish milled dollar, i household cares. She is a type of the Although many times severely pressed | noble, patriotic women to whom the for money, he could never be induced to I people are indebted. l>art with it, and it is still preserved bv James Crawford was an early settler some member of the family as an heir- on Wolf Creek. Tie was a native of loom. Mr. Moody was a very valuable Pennsylvania, and at an early day acquisition to Deerfield's population, located in Muskingum County, from He was a shoemaker by trade, and for whence he came to Morgan County some years went from house to house, about 1820. He was a blacksmith by as was the custom in those days, making ; occupation, and brought with him a and repairing the shoes of the settlers' stock of cowbells, expecting they would families. lie also ministered to their find a ready sale among the pioneers; spiritual wants. Me was a Baptist in but owing to the scarcity of money he his religious lielief, and for many years found no sale for them, lie reared a he preached through Morgan and adjoin- j family of ten children. Mary married ing counties, frequently extending his John Massey in 1849. He died in 1858. travels into Virginia. His wife was an Hugh Nixon was an Irishman, and excellent lady. She was born in 1T8T came from Ohio County, W. Va., about and became the mother of eight chil- twenty miles below Wheeling. With dren, three of whom were born in the ! him came his family, consisting of his county - Smith G., Lydia A. and John wife and four children - Frances, Ann F. She died in 1800, her husband in | J., Joseph W. and John W. He was 1873, aged ninety years. Smith G. prominent among the pioneers and was Moody is a native of the township; for the first settler on the northeast quarter many year's he was a merchant of Tria- of Section 28. lie was one of the early delphia, and for a quarter of a century I justices of the peace of the township, was postmaster. He Mmarried iss Olive and for nine years he occupied the posi- P. Wise in 1848. She was born near tion continuously. He was a devout Deavertown. i member of the Methodist Church, and

William Massey was a Friend, lie j was everywhere highly esteemed. Of came from Chester County, Pa., in 1810, his children three are living in the and entered three quarter-sections of county - Mrs. William Hopkins, Eliza land, -part of which is now in Malta A., and Joseph W., who lives on a part Township. In 1819 he married Miss ! of the old estate.

Sarah Gay, and reared a family of six About 1810 Joseph Anderson, then a children - Levi, Mary, Asa, John, Caro young man, settled on the farm now line and Sally. John was born in owned by his son, Joseph, Jr. Several Malta in 1825 and has been a resident years after, his father, Augustine, from

Sussex County, New Jersey, came to the township. He was an officer in the war of the revolution, and died in the township when in his eightv-eighth year.

Jacob Tedrow came from Washington County, Pa. lie located a tract of land in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1807, where he remained until 1817, when he came to what is now Deerfield Township, where he entered a quartersection. He did not identify himself with the development of the township except as a farmer. He went to Athens County in 1837, and died in Hocking County about 1870. Michael, his son, was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1800, and has been a resident of the township for fifty-two years. He married Sarah Prine. She was born in Mercer County, Pa., in 1811. In 1812 her parents came to Muskingum Couny, Ohio, where she was reared and married. Of the family of Jacob Tedrow, Michael is the only one now living in the county. He is one of the pioneers in the section of the township in which he resides.

Triadelphia, the only village in the township, is situated a little north of the center. It was laid out in 1838 by A. Roberts. The plat consisted of twenty -six lots, Main street and Juniper and High streets crossing it at right angles. At present there are some ten or twelve dwellings, one school-house, two churches, one dry -goods store and a blacksmith shop.

The Walpoles are lineal descendants of Sir Robert Walpole, of England. Martin Walpole came from County Cavan, Ireland, about 1800, and for a time lived in New York, and came thence to Morgan County. At the time of his settlement there were onlv two

1 families in the township. For a year he lived alone, at the end of which time he was joined bv his wife and family. The story of his pioneer experiences sounds more like fiction than fact. His | cabin was ten by twelve feet; for a chimney he had a large stump in the center; a suspended quilt formed the door, and often at night the wolves would pull the quilt aside and look in, and but for the fire would have entered. He was a man of powerful physique, and on one occasion he killed a bear with no other weajion than a liandspike ; at another time he foimd a panther among his sheep, and killed it in the same manner. He had three sons and three daughters. Mathew Walpole, a j son, and one of the prominent citizens of the township of Malta, was born in Morgan County ( )ctober 24, 1824. Mar- | tin Walpole died May 24, 1847 ; his wife, Margaret, died September 30, 1855. The 1 farm he first entered is still in possession of the family, also the praverliook, which I in pioneer days afforded him much consolation.

In 1838 the first anti-slavery society in Morgan County, and perhaps the first in Southeastern Ohio, was formed i in Deerfield Township. The anti-slavery i movement was at this time in its infancy, and it required no small amount of moral courage to espouse the cause of the black man. Many of the members of this organization lived to see the principles they advocated triumph. The following are the articles of association and names of the members :

" Preamble. - Believing slavery "to be I a sin against God, a violation of hu- I man rights, and an obstruction to the cause of Christianity, by making it the patron of sin and exciting the derision of opposers, believing that it consigns the slave to degradation, suffering and 1 despair, surrounds the masters with perils, and exposes all who uphold the system to the judgment of God, and l>elieving that we owe it to the oppressed, to our fellow-citizens who hold slaves, to our country, to human interests universally, to ]>osterity and to God, earnestly to seek the abolition of slavery by using such means, and such only as are sanctioned bv the laws of the land and by the dictates of humanity and justice : we do hereby agree to form ourselves into a society to aid in 1 the accomplishment of this object and , to be governed by the following constitution :

"Article 2. The object of this society shall be the entire abolition of slavery throughout the United States and the elevation of our colored brethren to their proper rank as men. While admitting that the several States have, by our federal constitution, the exclusive right to legislate for the abolition of slavery in their respective limits, it maintains that it is our imperative duty to collect and diffuse facts and information upon the subject, and by all lawful means to convince our fellow-citizens throughout the Union that it is a heinous sin against God, at | war with the principles of human liberty, ruinous to our national morals and prosperity, and that the duty, safety and interests of all concerned, require its utter and immediate abolition;'

Deerjiehl Prenhyterum Churr/t. - This church is one of the oldest religious societies in the county. It was organized in 1819 by Rev. Thomas Moore.

The first meml>ers were Samuel Stanbery, Jacob Price and wife, T. ('ampbell and wife, J. Wright and wife, and S. Price, and three others whose names are not now remembered, making eleven in all. October 6, 1821, Samuel Stanlierv, Thomas Campbell and Josiali W right were ordained elders. The present membership is seventy -two; number of Sabbath-school scholars, thirtyfive. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Thomas P. Moore, John Hunt, Plumstead, - Aiken and - Ferguson. Since 1858 the preaching has been by supplies, of whom twelve have labored at various times, from one to two years each. The first pastor, Rev. Thomas Moore, was a tall, spare man, grave and dignified. His dress was of the ancient kind. lie wore knee-breeches and kneebuckles, and his sermons, like his dress, reminded one of the olden times. The organization of the society was due to the efforts of Samuel Stanberv, a man whose genial disposition and upright life won the respect of the entire community. The little pioneer church grew thrifty and strong, and in 1822 a log church 24x28 feet was built near the site of the present one, and Rev. John Hunt was secured as pastor. He left the field in 1881. In 1880 the old log church was removed and a frame building took the place, which after a time was thought to l>e unsafe, and in 1850 a new one took its place. This church was burned in 1877, and the present edifice built the same year. Four of the members of the congregation were soldiers in the war of the rebellion and lost their lives in the defense of their country - Janies Hailey, Asa Massey, Joel Walker and James Robb.

The Ij trust Croce M. K. Church . - The Locust Grove Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the south part of Deerfield Township. Services were first held at the house of Hugh Nixon. About 1828 a hewed log church was erected, the cost of construction being fifty bushels of wheat. It was formally dedicated by Bishop Norris. In 1844 a frame church took its place. This church was burned in 1888, and the present church structure was built in 1888. Among the early preachers were men prominent in the annals of Methodism. Notably among the number were Messrs. Trimble, Gavitt. Hamilton and Stewart.

Christian Church. - The Christian Church of Deerfield was organized October 8, 1884, by Dr. O. W. Tliomp- ! son. The names of the first officers were: S. G. Moody and William

Banks, elders ; George Banks and Thomas Holcomb, deacons; T. J. Masterson, clerk; Henry Massey, George W. Pickrell and George S. Gregg, trustees, and seventy-eight members. The , present church was built in October, j 1884, is 84x42 feet, costing $1,500. The first pastor was Rev. A. R. Pickens. The present membership of the church is thirty-eight; number of Sabbathschool scholars, fifty.

Biographical Forster Edwards

Forster Edwards was born in Manchester, Mass., in 1788. During the war of 1812, for prudential reasons, his father removed his family to the State of Maine. Here young Forster remained until about 1818, when, learning of the fertility of the " Ohio Country, v and of the advantages to be secured by settle- , ment, he determined to visit the new Eldorado, which he did in the autumn j of that year. While crossing the I mountains he had an adventure with a robber who tried to waylay him with a stone. Mr. Edwards being armed, the robber was repulsed, and he continued his way unmolested. He was fa vorably impressed with the new country and selected the northeast quarter of Section 1.0 as his future home. Making a brief visit to his old home, he returned the following year and commenced the , improvement of his property. August 15, 1819, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas Rees, one of the early settlers of Muskingum County. Both were residents of the township until i their deaths - the former in 1871, the latter in 1885. They reared a family of three daughters - Mary J., Hannah and Susan B. Mary J. became Mrs. James Southard, Hannah married Thomas Holcomb, and Susan B., James Cunningham. Mr. Edwards was a man of strong religious convictions. He identified himself with the Protestant Methodist Church, and for many years he was a minister of that faith.

William Massey

The genealogy of the Massey family in America dates back to the advent of William Penn, at which time the first of the name is supposed to have come from England. Levi, the father of William Massey, was born in Chester County, near Philadelphia, and learned the saddler's trade, which he followed as his principal occupation through life. He married Catherine Evason, who was of Welsh descent, but born near Philadelphia. Seven children were born of this union - George, Thomas, John, Marv, Sarah (Baker), Pliebe (Mellon) and William. The parents were members of the Society of Friends and the children were reared in the faith of that society.

William Massey was not only one of the pioneers, but also one of the liest known citizens of Morgan County. He was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 28, 1785. He learned his fathers trade and pursued it until nearly twenty years of age. He then engaged for a time in mercantile pursuits. But failing health warned him that he needed employment which would give him more exercise in the open air, and he wisely decided to liecome a farmer. As the field of his future laliors, he looked to the new and remote West, and decided upon locating in the "Ohio Country." Sending on his goods bv wagon, he came on horseback, and in the year 1816 arrived in Deerfield Township, Morgan County, where he entered three quarter-sections of land, lie at once entered upon the work of the pioneer settler, erected his cabin and began his clearing on the farm now owned by William Kent. The following winter lie taught school, having pupils who came from far and near, some of them residing as far away as Triadelphia. Working earnestly at his clearing, he made considerable progress, and each season saw his fields extending wider. January 14, 1819, he married Miss Sarah Gay. She was born in the State of Maine and came to Ohio in 1816. settling at Brownsville, Muskingum County. William Massey and wife led the quiet, uneventful life of pioneer settlers, bravely doing their duty, though oft encountering hardships, but, on the whole, prospering reasonably well. They had seven children : Levi, Nancy, Mary, Asa, John, Caroline and Sally. Levi married first, Harriet Stanbery ; second, Abigail ('ope; he resides in Malta Township. Nancy died at nine years of age. Marv is the wife of Joseph Nixon and resides in Deerfield Township.