Fallsbury Township

Fallsbury Township

THIS township is situated in the northeastern part of the county, and is composed, principally, of rough, hilly, almost mountainous land, which is less productive perhaps than any other in the county, not excepting even the lands of Eden. It is very well adapted to pasturage and grazing, and there are a few narrow valleys where the soil is deep and rich; but it is an exceedingly rough township, comparatively little first-class farming land within its limits, and much of it cannot be cultivated at all, being covered with immovable rocks. The different varieties of oak have always been the prevailing timber. It is watered by the Wakatomika and its tributaries in its northern and eastern part, and Painter's run, a tributary of the Rocky fork, in its western paVt. The Wakatomika, which empties into the Muskingum at Dresden, is the principal stream, and affords some water power, which has been used to a limited extent, several mill privileges having been improved upon it within the limits of Fallsbury.

The region of the Wakatomika rivals that of the Rocky fork in the picturesqueness and beauty of its scenery, wildness and rugged, mountainous aspect of its general surface. The traveler along the narrow, winding road that skirts the stream will be filled with wonder and admiration at the great upheaval that has apparently taken place in this region. All along the stream the hills are elevated almost to the altitude of mountains, and immense rocks lie piled in every conceivable direction upon their surfaces, and protrude in every conceivable manner from their sides. At a point not far from Grigg's mill is a place of especial interest called "Rent Rocks." It would seem as if an immense rock had been thrown down with such force as to break it in several pieces. These pieces are lying at various distances from each other; some of them far enough apart to admit the passage of a pedestrian or even an equestrian. They are of immense size, and from their appearance and position have evidently, at some period of time formed one solid rock. There are many other places of especial interest along this stream.

In its primitive condition this was an excellent locality for the hunter and trapper, and game continued to be plenty here after it had disappeared from the valleys, where the settlements first occurred. Fallsbury retained) its primitive appearance longer than most other parts of the county, and, in fact, in many parts yet has the appearance of a new country ; being in places heavily timbered, and having many log cabins yet within its limits used as dwellings.

No special Indian history has been preserved, though the first settlers found them occupying this territory. Mr. John Evans, whose father brought him to the Wakatomika, a few miles below the Fallsburgh line in 1808, remembers that for several years his playmates were Shawanee Indian boys. There was an encampment of these Indians on Shawanee run, which empties into the Licking, and no doubt they used all the country around, including this township, for their hunting ground.

David Bright was the first settler, building his cabin, in 1818, in the woods upon land since o&ned by Mrs. Botts. It was among the last settled sections of the county, from the fact of its being away from the regular routes of travel and the undesirable quality of the land. The settlers that immediately succeeded Bright were Hezekiah Blount, William Wilson, Paul, William and James Van Winkle. Settlers continued to come in rapidly after the first settlement. The census of 1850 shows a population of over twelve hundred; since that, however, * it has steadily declined for some reason. Probably but little more than half of this population remains. Most of these settlers were from Virginia.

The township was organized in 1826, and the first election was held at the house of Samuel Varner. William Wilson was elected justice of the peace, and continued to hold the office fifteen years. Joseph Frost was the second, and William V. Hall the third. Minor McQueen, Levi Baughman, Lofland Hall, Dawson McQueen, James Colville, John Frampton, William Hall and others were later magistrates of this township.

The first 'trustees were Samuel Varner, William Wilson and Joseph Frost; first constable, William Hall; first clerk, Samuel Varner. John Evans was the second constable.

The township has no very extensively traveled thoroughfare, no turnpike, canal, telegraph or railroad, and nothing to attract emigrants, but in educational, moral and religious matters, it is fully up to the average.

Noah Reed, Silas Bland, Moses Priest and Minor McQueen are now remembered as among the most prominent and active politicians of the earlier days of Fallsburgh. Mr. Reed was elected to the legislature in 1849.

Silas Bland was a son of the Mr. Bland who removed from Pendleton county, Virginia, to the mouth of Licking in 1798, and who, with Hughes and Ratliff, pursused and shot the Indians who had stolen their horses. Silas was born in the sugar camp, and rocked in a sugar trough. He subsequently removed to Perry township.

Fallsbury is a small post-town, situated near the center of the township. It was laid out on lands belonging to Silas Bland. This land was first settled by Thomas Meeks and one or two of the McQueens. Minor McQueen was from Virginia, and purchased about two hundred acres 0f land in the vicinity of the present village.

Fallsbury was never laid out ; it grew, or seemed -to grow naturally, like a mushroom. No especial reason can be given why the town should exist 21 all, or should have made a start in its preset location, except, perhaps, that a few unimportant roads seemed to converge rather irregularly in that vicinity, and it was about the center of a settlement John Arnold built the first house; he was a farmer. The second house was built by Jesse Riley. These were both log dwellings, and the latter is yet standing. They were built about 1835 or 1840. Thomas Meeks erected the first black smith shop, soon after these cabins were buii George came a little later and started a saloon and grocery, the first mercantile business in the town He erected a small frame building for a store room, afterward used as a shoe shop. The place never supported more than one store at a time until within the last ten years, when there have been two the greater portion of the time.

Messrs. Robinson, Shake, and Christopher Job* son are now the store keepers. C. Hull now keeps a wagon shop, and there are two blacksmith shops and a few other small establishments of various kinds. Messrs. Thomas Holmes & Sons conduct a general workshop, where articles of various kinds requiring mechanical skill are manufactured. They are also the owners of a steam engine, which furnishes the power for a planing-mill, saw-mill and grist-mill, the latter grinding only corn, however. Their business was started about 1869. There are three doctors; about 'twenty dwellings, and perhaps one hundred people in the place. The village has rather a dilapidated, tumble-down look, as if it was not overwhelmed with thrift, and the fact that it is built on very rough ground does not add to its appearance.

Doctor Gilbert was probably the first postmaster here, and was followed by a Mr. Balcom, who in turn was succeeded by Mr. T. Fisk. J. W. Tilton was the next and Mr. Hickumbottom held the office prior to the appointment of the present postmaster, L. H. Robison.

Probably the first of the many mills erected on the Wakatomika in this township was by Hezekiah Blount, in what is now known as "Egypt". Thh mill has changed owners frequently and been rebuilt, but is yet in operation and owned by Mr.

Garrison Frampton, and is known far and near as "Frampton's Mill." A saw-mill has been connected with it since it was first erected, which was fifty-five or sixty years ago.

The second mill on this stream, known as "Gregg's mill," and owned by William Gregg, was built about 1840, by Henry Crabbs &nd William Garner. Only a saw-mill was erected here at first, but a few years later the grist-mill was added. These two with the Holmes' mill at Fallsbury, are probably the only mills in the township now in operation.

A very early school-house, and probably the first in the township, was erected in the Van Winkle settlement, not far from the village of Fallsbury.

One of the first religious organizations in this towrnship was, probably, the Old School Baptist Miner McQueen was a member of this denomination, and soon gathered around him a few settlers who were of his way of thinking, and they held religious meetings in his house, himself preforming the duties of pastor. Mr. Christopher Coffman also preached occasionally for these people.

The organization of the society was effected about 1832, and Miner McQueen, Christopher Coffman, John Fry and wife, Mrs. Buck, Mrs. Varner, Mrs. John Porter and a few others were the original members of this organization. In the old graveyard near Fallsbury yet stands an old, squatty, hewed-log building, the first, and, indeed, the only church erected by this society. It was, probably, bui)t about 1835. Services are yet regularly held in this building. The society is a weak one, probably, not numbering over a dozen members at present.

During the war a great many new church organizations sprang up all over the country, in consequence of a difference of political opinion, and the strife and feeling engendered by the great Rebellion. These organizations called themselves "Christian Union," and the members were generally members of , that portion of the Democratic party, who did not believe in the prosecution of the war for the Union. They were generally members of other churches, who left those churches, because the prayers for the President of the United States and the success of the Union army grated harshly upon their ears.

George Higgins was the leader and principal organizer. This society was organised at the schoolhouse, and the principal members, George Higgins, Gideon McQueen and wife, William Booth and wife, Obediah Baufman, Thomas Gorley, Alice Gilbreath, John Reed, Henry Wilson, Lewis Baughman, Catharine Mossholder, Susan Scott, Ann Scott, Levi Priest and wife, Alexander Smith and Leonard Billman.

This organization purchased a dwelling house, and fitted it up for a cjiurch building, and George Higgins and Rev. Atherton were the principal ministers. Soon after the war ended, the church ended, and has not, for some years, been known among the churches of Fallsbury.

The third church organized in Fallsbury, was the Disciple. This congregation was organized the third Sunday in March, 1869, and during the same and the following year, erected a church building in the village. David D. Mitchel, Mr. White and J. A. Walters were their first preachers; John Howell, elder; Samuel Hupp, clerk, and William Scott, John Howell and Jacob Booth, trustees. The organization consisted of twentyfive members or more; it now has a membership of forty-four.

One, the Pleasant Valley church, is located on the Zanesville and Mount Vernon road, about one mile southeast of Fallsbury. This church was organized at the house of Noah Reed, about 1836. Messrs. Noah Reed and George Gardner were the principal movers in the organization; and the original members were Noah Reed and wife, George Gardner and wife, Silas Bland and wife, John Tilton and wife, Aaron Decker, and William Beckham and wife.

Their first church building, a log, was erected about one mile south of the present building, in 1837; the second and present buildiflg, a frame, was erected about 1857, and cost about one thousand dollars. Their first regular minister was Rev. Bell, of the Northern Ohio conference.

The Sunday-school was organized the year after the church edifice was erected (1838), and has been well sustained, six months in the year, to the present time, and now numbers forty or fifty members.

The other church in this township, also a Methodist Episcopal, was organized about the same time as the Pleasant Valley. It is known as the "Goshen" church, and is located in what is known as Egypt, in the valley of the Wapitomika.

John Painter was one of the prominent members of this organization, and the society was probably first organized at his house. Garrison Frampton was also a prominent mover in this organization and a class leader. John Rogers, John Frost and

Edward Bishop were also among the original members. Silas Bland who lived at that time in the neighborhood of Gregg's mill, was also much interested in this church, and gave the ground upon which their first church building was erected. This first building was a frame, and was built about 1855. Some years afterwards, this same building was moved several miles to its present location in the eastern edge of the township, where it was repaired and built over into the present church, in 1880, costing as it stands about nine hundred dollars.

The present membership is probably fifty or more. The organization of the Sunday-school was coeval with that of the church, and is yet maintained.