Eden Township

Eden Township

EDEN township lies in the northeastern part of the county and is essentially a township of farmers, there being no town within its limits. It is well watered by the Rocky fork and its tributaries, the main body of which stream passes diagonally across the township from north to south, near its center.

If any works of the Mound Builders existed in this township, they have almost, if not entirely, disappeared. The soil was not well adapted to the erection of their works, being composed of rocks and clay. This mysterious people clung closely, it appears, to sandy, loamy soil, in the erection of their works.

The face of the country is broken and hilly, in some places assuming the dignity and grandeur of mountains; the valleys are generally narrow and very fertile. In its primitive state the oak predominated in the forest, considerable chestnut was also found, and the valleys were occupied by sugar and ; shell-bark hickory; and the entire township was I covered with fruits, flowering shrubs, and trees of j smaller growth. The abundance of fruits, nuts, and wild game, made it desirable hunting ground, and rendered it comparatively easy for the pioneers to support their families until the forest should be cleared away.

There are a great number of springs in every direction, bursting from the hillsides, and the water flowing from these form a network of small streams; these form the creeks which, after flowing in tortuous courses through narrow valleys find I their outlet in the wild and pretty Rocky fork. Long run, one of the larger tributaries of the Rocky fork in this township, rises in its northeastern corner, and flowing south along its eastern border, joins the Rocky fork in the northern part of Mary Ann township. Lost run rises in the southwestern part of this township, several branches of it uniting near the United Brethren church, and flowing south in Mary Ann township. A high range of hills passes across the township from northwest to southeast in its western part, dividing the waters of the Rocky fork from those of Lost run and the North fork of Licking. The springs before mentioned are more numerous in this township than in any other in the county, with the possible exception of Fallsbury.

The natural scenery is picturesque, and in many places on the Rocky fork approaches the sublime. About one mile north of the south line of Eden, on either side of the road, like two grim seritinels, stand the " Picture rocks," in the midst of scenery so wild and rugged as to attract pleasure parties from Newark and other places.

Rocky fork is appropriately named. Exclusive of the regular mountain ranges, scenery so wild and rugged will seldom be found. All along this stream through Mary Ann and Eden, in every successive mile, the beholder is filled with wonder and amazement at the new and varied phases of Nature's face. Coming up from the south along this stream, over a narrow, winding mountain road, these Picture rocks seem, as it were, to be the "cap sheaf" of all the rugged beauty below; yet this mountainous scenery continues through the entire township along this stream. Turning to the right a little south of Picture rocks, a narrow, winding by-road leads over the hills of Long run, and in a short time "Rain rock" is reached. This is a spot of much natural beauty. Nothing of special importance is observed from the roadway, which passes directly over the top of Rain rock. 'Descending into a gloomy gorge, filled with trees and flowering shrubs, with huge sand-rocks piled promiscuously about on the hill-sides, a place that can only be reached by a footman, the Rain rocks and their accompaniments come into view. This is merely a huge, seamed sand rock that juts from the hill-side, over which the road passes, extending into the gorge thirty or forty feet, its under surface, so much of it as can be seen, being about one hundred feet long by thirty or forty feet wide. This surface appears elevated, at the highest part, some twenty feet or more above the surface of the ground beneath, but sloping slightly until it rests upon a solid wall of sand rock that supports it. It forms a gloomy, cavernous-looking excavation, and a shelter where a hundred people or more might escape from a storm. In various places through the crevices of this rock-roof, clear, sparkling spring water issues, and keeps up an incessant dropping, year after year, upon the sand beneath, hence the name Rain rock. In winter this dropping water forms icicles, often reaching from the ground to the surface of the rock, making very beautiful pyramids of ice.

This is also a pleasure resort. Pleasure parties from Newark and other places sometimes camp out here for days, and ramble about among these picturesque hills. Meetings of various kinds are also held here, and rude plank seats are here arranged for the accommodation of an audience* in front of which, and at a little distance from Rain rock, is a flat rock, four or five feet high, and ten or twelve feet in diameter accross the top, with a smooth surface, known as "Pulpit rock," upon which the speaker stands, and upon which several chairs may be placed for the accommodation of distinguished visitors. In rear of the "Audience room" and fronting Pulpit rock, is a huge mass of perpendicular rocks. These are "rent and riven" as by thunder bolts; the interstices being filled with laurel bushes, and the edges rimmed with ferns, causing this mass of rocks, during the proper season, to look like an immense flower-pot. It is altogether a very pretty and healthful resort.

In its primitive condition, before the heavy hand of man was laid upon its timber and soil, this township must have been a perfect Garden of Eden for the hunter both red and white. Game of every description was plenty and continued to be plenty long after it was driven out of the more desirable parts of the county. Wild animals found a sure^and safe retreat among these hills and rocks.

The pioneers were William Shannon, Jesse Old aker and Ebenezer Brown, who settled in the west half of the township in the spring of 1813. Shannon came from Franklin county Pennsylvania; Oldaker from the Shenandoah Valley, and Brown from Washington county, Pennsylvania. These formed the nucleus of what is now Eden township. They were soon followed by Homeward Mariott, William Mitchell, Aaron Brown, Robert McLaughlin, James Starrett, Rev. James Cunningham, James Porter, Charles McFadden, Elisha McFadden, James W. Colville, Jordan Hall, David Moats and W. Henthorn.

The erection of a grist mill-on the upper waters of the Rocky fork, by Ebenezer Brown, at a very early period, soon followed by the erection of another one mile below, by Honorable William Mitchell, were noteworthy events, and contributed largely to the comfort and convenience of the early settlers of Eden, Mary Ann, and portions of Knox county. The Mitchell mill is yet running having changed hands several times. It is now owned by John Stevenson. Quite a number of mills, both saw- and grist-mills, have been erected at various places along the Rocky fork, in this township; few are now, however, in running order. This stream furnished very good mill-power, and seldom went dry, as it is fed largely by springs.

About 1854, a woollen factory was erected by Walter B. Finney, about a mile below the Mitchell milL It was in operation about seven years when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Finney, who is yet living, also erected a saw-mill in connection with his woollen factory, which is yet running. A mill also had an existence in an early day near the Long Run post office, in the eastern part of the township, but its wheels have not been turning for some years.

The first road through this township was, probably, the old State road, now known as the Martinsburgh and Newark road, which passes across the township from north to south on the west side of the Rocky fork, and was much used in early days by travelers from Newark * to Mt. Vernon, Martinsburgh and points further north.

It has been stated that there were no villages in this township, and this is, probably, the case, though some attempts have been made in this direction.

James Shannon undertook to build a town in the northwestern part of the township, on the Rocky fork, in the vicinity of a very small lake, about 1856. He erected a store-room, put in a stock of goods, and called the place Oberlin. Attempts were also made to get a regular post office, but without success, though letters are left at the store for people in that neighborhood. This store has been conducted at different times by different parties, but during the past year (1880) it was destroyed by fire. A new building, however, has been erected and the store continued. In addition to this, there is a blacksmith shop, kept by John Hughes, and three or four dwellings. There was also a store on the farm of Elzey Dush about twenty years ago, in the eastern part of the township. There is also a cluster of houses here - three or four.

The second regular post office in the township was established in 1858, by James W. Colville, who was the first postmaster. It was kept in his dwelling house, where it is yet kept, his son being the present postmaster. This is the Long Run office. There is no town there - nothing but Mr. Colville's residence, the church, and ruins of the old mill.

Probably the first school taught in this township was by James Cunningham, near the north line of the township, a short distance from Oberlin, in an old deserted building that had been erected for a tannery. The first school-house erected in the township was probably the one that stood near the Rocky fork, about a mile southeast of Oberlin. It was a rude, round log building, and James Cunningham kept the first school in it. The township

Eden has furnished to the county two surveyors, William Anderson and James R. Anderson, a commissioner, Jordan Hall, and a representative, William Mitchell.

The Disciple church was organized in 1829, and was the first church organization of that society in Licking county. It was organized in the log school-house known as the "Henthorn school youse," situated about four miles south of where, in 1834, a fine frame church edifice was erected on the farm of Benjamin Bell, in Knox county. The church was erected on the line between Knox and Licking counties.

The first disciple preaching in the county was by Elder James Porter at this place in 1829, by whom, also, this congregation was organized. He was also its first elder, and for some time its ablest and almost only public .advocate. He resided in the vicinity, and perhaps to him more than to any other man, the organization is indebted for its origin, advancement, and present standing and influence in the community. The members of its first organization were James Porter and wife, Benjamin Bell, sr., and wife, Elizabeth Bell (wife of Samuel Bell), Stephen Harris and wife, Isaac Henthom and wife, and Elisha Stout.

About 1830 a public discussion took place in a log barn belonging to Jesse Oldacre, between Rev. James Gilruth, of the Methodist Episcopal church, and elder James Porter, on behalf of the Disciples. After this discussion, which seemed to arouse much interest, the congregation grew rapidly in numbers, and subsequently under the ministerial labors of such evangelists as James Porter, John Secrist, John Reed, Reuben Davis, John Sargent, James Mitchell, Jesse B. Ferguson, Arthur Critchfield, James J. Moss, Dr. William Hayes, David G. Mitchel, J. H. Jones, Isaiah Jones, Andrew Burns, Abner Lemert, Benjamin Bell, jr., David Sharpless, David Weaver, Jonas Hartzel,Ziba Brown, and many others, members were added until the membership reached more than one hundred and fifty.

Benjamin Bell, jr., upon whom as teacher and elder, rested for ten or twelve years the almost exclusive control of the church, deserves much credit for his efficiency and faithfulness.

In 1873 this society erected a church in the western part of the township, called Eden chapel. The building is a very good one, and the society strong in numbers and active. They also maintain an active Sabbath -school. On the opposite side of the road from this church is the old burying ground, upon which was erected one of the first churches in the county, but which has gone out of existence, this Disciple church taking its place. The United Brethren are strong in this township, keeping up two churches, and near this place one of their first societies was organized, in the cabin of one of the members. This organization of United Brethren, however, never obtained a firm hold here, but by the help of the few Methodists in the neighborhood, erected in an early day, a log church, used occasionally by both denominations, when they were able to secure a minister. The tlnited Brethren organization did not probably continue here more than six or seven years; they were not able to support a minister, and when the Pleasant Valley church was organized, in the southern part of the township, they attended there and gave the old log up entirely to the Methodists. The most influential members in the Methodist Episcopal organization were the Oldacres, two or three families of whom resided in that vicinity. Jesse Oldacre was prominent and influential in establishing the church and keeping it up, hence it soon came to be known as the "Oldacre church." The principal members of the original organization of this Methodist class were Jesse Oldacre and wife, William Shannon and wife, William Oldacre and wife, H. B. Oldacre and wife and Margaret Wilkins. After the death of Jesse Oldacre and the removal of others of the members from the neighborhood, the church languished. The old log church building was probably erected about 1848, or before. As before stated the Disciple church has taken the place, in this neighborhood, of the other two denominations.

The Pleasant Valley United Brethren church is located in the southern part of the township on the old State road, now the Newark and Martinsburgh road, on the head-waters of Lost Run, and is one of the oldest churches in the county; baring been organized about 1820, or before. Rer. Joshua Montgomery was probably instrumental in the organization of this church, and was, probably, its first minister. As no records were kept for many of its earlier years, it is hard to get correct data as to its earliest history; but prior to the erection of the church building, the members proba bly held their meetings at the cabin of John Neigh barger, Who was one of its earliest and roost prominent members. William Shannon and wife also belonged to this church in its earlier yean The old log church built fifty years ago, or more, was known as the "Montgomery chapel," and answered all purposes of a church for forty yean or more. The present neat frame building was erected about 1869. The present membership of this church is about forty.

In later years, about 1855, a second United Brethren church was organized in this township, called "Edwards' meeting-house." John Edwards the Phillipses and some others were the principal movers in its establishment. The church, a frame building, was erected about 1856, in the eastern part of the township, on Long run, on Mr. Edwards' farm, and is frequently called the Long Run church. Preaching and a Sunday-school are maintained with considerable regularity.

The Protestant Methodist church located in the southern part of the township, a mile or more northeast of the United Brethren church, was organized about 1857. Stephen Miles, deceased, was the founder of this church. He and his brother William, Washington Holten, Jacob Sousland and some others were the first members of this organization. They held their meetings at first in the school-house, but erected the present church building in 1858. Rev. Hoagland was probably their first minister. This is now a strong, active church, with a membership of fifty or more.

Ten years after the erection of the church, a Sabbath-school was organized, and is maintained with considerable success, the average attendance being forty or fifty.

This township is, at this time, divided into farms of ordinary size ; is pretty well cleared and fenced, though much of its surface, especially along the Rocky Fork, will probably never ' be made capable