Harrison Township

Harrison Township

be certainly stated, but in 1798, a family named Bean, inhabited a large sycamore tree, that stood near the mouth of Back run. Other families came soon after, among whom were the Larrisons, Farleys, and Cobbs. These were followed by Nathaniel Ayers, Samuel McBride, James Hemmet, Henry Ballou, James Neff, and 'Thomas Winn.

Jacob Baker came about this time. John W. Baer was probably the first blacksmith in this township. William B. Rose had a shop on Duncan's run, in 1827, and afterwards on ''the island," where he smithed for James Taylor during the erection of the mills. He was killed during the fall of 1835, by Robert Annan. James Curran lived in a small frame house situated on what is now lot twenty-five, square twenty-nine, Taylorsville, and kept tavern in 1830. The first store in Harrison township was kept by Gearing Scarvell, who commenced in a small way, about 1833, and gradually increased until he was the owner of a fine store, and is still doing business in Taylorsville. The first regular cemetery was established in Taylorsville in 1833.

Prior to the adoption of the common school law in Ohio, schools were taught in private houses, or in houses erected by a neighborhood for their individual advantage, shared, by agreement, by their neighbors, who shared the expense. The first public school-house, of which any authentic account is preserved,was a two-story frame, erected on the public square, in Taylorsville, in 1834. The teacher was Robert Sheppard.

The first physician was one Bixby, who was succeeded by ''a regular," in the person of Dr. Noah Z. Mercer. After Mercer, came Drs. Mason, Clapp, Ballou, Wilkins, Huff, McCormick, Terran, Atwell, Howard, Groves, Suters, Milligan, Blackburn, Lyons, Ulrich, Henry, Dorr, Richie, and Evans.

Taylor, in 1830; the first brick house by Amos -F. Whissen, in Taylorsville, in 1836. The first regular survey of.a road was made from Taylorsville to Brush creek. The viewers: were, David Butt, John Oakes, and Gearing Scarvell. James Tay lor built a dam across the Muskingum river, at Duncan's Falls, and a saw mill on the west side of the river, in 1820. The next year he built a grist mill at the same place. The dam was replaced by Colonel James Sharp, under a contract with the State, in 1837-38, (at the time the navigation of the Muskingum river was improved). The grist mill, after passing through several hands, 'and being moved nearer the shore, became the property of Messrs. W. & W. H. Frazier. It contains four run of buhrs, and is doing a fair business. Mr. Taylor also kept a ferry, and engaged in the manufacture of salt, and a number of other enterprises.

Topographically, Harrison township is broken and rough. The highest elevations contain most of the limestone. The lowlands are deemed as productive as any lands similarly situated ; some of the finest farms in the county are found here. The township is well watered. Sycamore run, Duncan's run, Back run, and Blue Rock run, all of which rise in Brush Creek township, flow eastwardly through Harrison township, and empty Coal is tolerably abundant, but mined with difficulty, on account of "horsebacks" and ''shut-outs" occurring in the seams, and which are sometimes very difficult to pass through or around, and then there is no certainty of finding coal beyond them.

Geology

At the point where the section was made, the Alexander coal was unusually thin. It is reported to be thicker on the east side of the Muskingum riyer.

The lower Alexander coal has been extensively mined at this point, and shipped on the Muskingum river to supply the demand of the salt furnaces, and the towns on the river below. It was at this point that the roof of an entry fell in, imprisoning four miners, who were rescued alive after an imprisonment ioe over thirteen days, during which time they had nothing to eat, except the dinner carried in for the first day. - [Geological Report, 1873; Volume I., page 332-3. E. B. Andrews. ]

Manufacture Of Salt

In the year 1816, Jacob and Nathaniel Ayers bored the first well for salt; it was located on Section 10, Town 11, and Range 13, on the west bank of the river, just above the mouth of Sycamore Run, and was sunk toa depth of four hundred and eighty-two feet. Subsequently an- other well was sunk about four hundred feet distant,and the two wells supplied the furnace; i.e., the evaporating works; but owing to the primitive style of the machinery employed, were not very productive.

In the course of time, these wells became the property of John Stevens, and were known as the 'Stevens Salt Works." The success of these works, however, is due to Jacob Neff, who re-bored the old well to a depth of five hundred and three feet, improved the machinery, and rebuilt the furnace.

STEPHEN GUTHRIE'S SALT Works - The wells at these works are respectively four hundred and eighty-eight; and four hundred and ninety-five feet deep, and are situated just below the mouth of Sycamore Run.

The works are now operated by William Edgely, and produce about one hundred barrels of salt per week, with a consumption of one thousand bushels of coal.

OTHER WeELL_s - About the year 1830, Michael Waxler bored a well for Moses Ayers, on the northwest quarter of Section 8, now owned by Henry Krigbaum. This well was sunk five hundred feet deep, and was operated by Mr. Ayers for a few years, and then abandoned.

United Brethren Church

The first evangelist of this denomination, was Rev. John Russell, who preached to 'ta handful of the saints,' in the humble dwelling of Jacob Baker. He organized a class at this time, but we are unable to give the names of those who there assembled, and cannot say, with certainty, what year they met, but tradition asserts that it was about the year 1820. The seed sown must have fallen on good ground, for the same authority declares that, about the year 1822, the Rev. - - Harding came, and preached three years, in the same, house ; and in 1825, this house was deemed too small, and they moved to the Duncan school-house, and were ministered to by 'told Father Hastings" for two years. In 1830, they were served by Elder Case and others, until, in 1852, they built a hewed log house, on the premises of Robert Prescott. This house was built during the administration of Rev. David Shrader, and its dimensions were twenty-five by thirty feet. The Trustees were: Shrader, Whitaker, Stockdale, and Levi Marcellus.

The society numbered eight or ten members - Jacob Baker and wife, Stockdale and wife, Prescott and wife, and perhaps several more. They worshiped in this house until June, 1876, when, under the second administration of the Rev. Samuel Whitmore, William Aichle, ''Pal'' Baker, and Jacob Eppley, Sr., were constituted a Board of Trustees, and, in the town of Taylorsville, Muskingum county, Ohio, a house, thirty by forty, was erected, and dedicated on Sabbath, the 27th of August, 1876, by Rev. William Fisher. That year, the Conference sent Reverends S. F. Altman and Daniel Folk, who took charge of the congregation. The following year, G. W. Dearer ministered to them, and was succeeded by J. W. Cummings, now in his second year. The membership now numbers one hundred and four, and has a good Sunday School. We are indebted to J. W. Cummings for the foregoing data.

Taylorsville Methodist Episcopal Church

In the year 1830, Rev. Mr. Goff organized a class, at James Hammet's, on Duncan's run, which was subsequently changed to Taylorsville. The members of the first class were: James Hammet and wife, Peter Sheppard and wife, James Seright and wife, Daniel Dutro and wife, James Neff and wife, Silas White and wife, Robert Sheppard and wife, Robert Prescott, Sr., and wife, Sanford Burdott and wife, Lucy Baker, Jacob Baker, and Rhoda. Hammet. The class-leader was James Hammet.

For several years the meetings were held in such buildings as could be procured, until 1840, when a meeting-house was erected on lots six and seven, block thirty-six. This was a frame building, forty by fifty, and was dedicated by Rev. Joseph Trimble. The present number of members is one hundred and twenty. Leaders - David W. Seright and Aquilla Neff; Steward - E. Jasper Souders.

Taylorsville, the only village in the bounds of Harrison township, was laid out by James Taylor, in 1833, and received its name from that gentleman. Gearing Scarvell was the surveyor, and one of the first occupants, having resided on the premises before the town was laid out. He kept the first store; James Curran, the first hotel; William B. Rose, the first blacksmith shop ; Humphrey Blake, the first shoe shop, and James McBride, the first cabinet shop.

The town, at present, contains four churches, three schools, four stores, five. groceries, one tdvern, one grist-mill, two saloons, two blacksmith shops, two tin shops, two shoe shops, one wagon

Taylorsville is situated on the west bank of the Muskingum river, arid occupies a gravelly bluff, ninety feet in height. It extends down the river three-fourths of a mile, and one-half mile back from the canal. The location is a beautiful and healthy one. To procure water, wells have to be sunk to a depth of eighty feet, but, when reached, it is of excellent quality.

Taylorsville was, for a long time, a ''mission,"' supplied from Zanesville. In the year 1836, a church was erected, on lot eight, of block twenty-nine - a frame structure, twenty-five by forty. Anthon Eberst was the contractor, and the building cost one thousand dollars. It was dedicated by Bishop Purcell.

''A petition was presented by John Hammond, signed by a majority of the householders residing within the boundaries of the proposed new township, and the Commissioners, being satisfied that the necessary notice of such intended application had been given by advertisement, as required by law, proceeded to take the matter into consideration.

"'The petition set forth that they labor under many difhiculties and disadvantages, in consequence of the distance and other difficulties they encounter, in going to and from elections; and also praying that a new township may be set off of parts of Blue Rock, Brush Creek, and Salt Creek townships; and the Commissioners, believing it necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and township officers, do hereby order a. new township to be set off, according to the folkawing boundaries, to wit:

'Beginning at the southwest corner of section number fourteen, in the original surveyed township number ten, in range number thirteen, and running thence north to the center of the Muskingum river ; thence following down the center of said river according to the meanderings thereof, to the line which divides the counties of - Muskingum and Morgan, thence west on said line to the place of beginning - all in the Congress district of lands, which shall constitute a new township, to be called Harrison township.

'Also ordered by the Commissioners that an election be held at the house of P. Burkhalter, in Taylorsville, on the 20th inst, (being December 20th, 1839,) between the hours. of eight and ten a.m., and close at four P.M., to elect township officers, according to law."

The records of the township are lost, and no account of the first Board of officers can now be given. The first Justices of the Peace, however, were J. W. Whisson and William Price. Solomon Groves and Henry Ballou were also early dispensers of justice.

The township contains seven schools and six churches, three of the former and four of the latter being within the limits of the borough of Taylorsville.

Taylorsville Canal

This canal is a part of the system of ''improvements in the navigation of the Muskingum."' - It isone mile long, and was built by the State. Lyons, Buck and Wolf, were the contractors. Christley Wolf superintended the work, which was finished in 1840.

Methodist Protestant Church

Rev. Nathaniel Linder, in 1842, preached in the woods, where Hiram Price now lives, on the bank of the Muskingum, and organized a class - of fifteen or twenty members, amongst whonr were Robert Welch and wife, alsotwo daughters, Peter Mohler and family, James Morrison and. wife, Mrs. David Young, Isaiah Dinnis and wife, Joseph Fish and Robert Twyman. » meeting house built near the centre of section thirty, on the land of Mathias Young, 24x28, which stood till 1869, when a new frame building, 34x38, was erected, at a cost of $1,100. This church was dedicated in May, 1870, by Rev's. J. C. Ogle and George H. Hissey. - The present membership is eighty. . The present pastor is Rev. William Sears. Class. Leaders - Hiram Price and F. A. Riley.

Blue Rock Methodist Episcopal Church

The first class of this church was formed by Rev. Samuel Hamilton, with Joseph Kirk as leader. Other members were, John Hammond and wife, Frederick Barringer and wife, John White and wife, James Shaner and wife, John W. Bear and wife, and Susan Adams.

Taylorsville Lodge, No. 534, I. 0.0. F.

When this Lodge was instituted, it met ina hall leased of Mrs. Dr. Stout, for aterm of five years. Before the expiration of this lease, anew hall was built, and dedicated July 4th, 1877. Cost of hall and fixtures $950.

Taylorsville Bridge

This very necessary public improvement was projected by Mr. Gearing Scarvell, in 1873, and was intended to be built by subscription, but as this would have necessitated making it a toll bridge, the County Commissioners were finally induced to assume the responsibility of making a county bridge, and the work was commenced July 1, 1874. T.B. Townsend had the

The contract for the super-structure was awarded to the ''Smith Bridge Company," of Toledo, Ohio, who completed the entire structure about the middle of November, 1874. This bridge is seven hundred and ninety-eight feet long, and sixteen feet wide, supported by four piers,each thirty-three feet high ; the whole, costing, when finished, twenty-eight thousand dollars.

This church was organized April 11, 1878, by Rey. Andrew Birch, with a membership of fifty. A lot was purchased in Taylorsville, in October, 1878, and a foundation laid for achurch building. The next spring the corner-stone of a building thirty-six by fifty feet, was laid, a frame church erected, and dedicated September 28, 1879. The dedication sermon was preached in German, by Rev. H. Cramer, of Zanesville, and in English, by Prof. M. Loy. The cost of the building was $1,000. Present number of members, sixty.