Howard Township

Howard Township

HOWARD was originally a part of Union township, and now lies directly west of and joins it. It was erected into a separate township, and organized March 9, 1825. At the earliest election recorded in the township records, held in 1834, at the house of Nathaniel Critchfield, the following officers were chosen : trustees, George Lybarger, Joseph Critchfield and Jonathan Wartor; clerk, Henry H. Wartor ; treasurer, Nathaniel Critchfield ; fencevievvers, Thomas Elwell and John W. Mason ; overseers of poor, Moses Porter, Nathan A. Magers ; constables, Eli Engle, Samuel Critchfield. Joseph McMahon and Martin Engle were the first justices of the peace elected in the township. Amos Workman, Benjamin Huddington, Thomas J. Porter and William Williams were of the first justices. For several years after the organization of Howard township, the trustees, clerk, treasurer, supervisor, and other township officers, donated their legal services to the township. The inhabitants, at that time, were comparatively poor, money was scarce, and it was about all they could do to support their families and pay state and county taxes, and the strictest economy was necessary in order to "make both ends meet."

The surface of this township is generally broken, but the ascents and descents are not as abrupt as in most of the eastern townships of Knox county. The soil is fertile, much of it being gravelly loam, which is peculiarly adapted for the growing of wheat and other cereals. The bottom lands of Owl creek, and the big and little Jelloway streams, produce very heavy crops of corn, etc. Howard township originally was well timbered, and at this date much valuable timber exists.

Owl creek, the principal stream of water, enters the township about the centre of its southern side, its course through Howard being north and east, leaving the township near the southeast corner. Big Jelloway creek enters the northeast corner of Howard, from Brown township, and flowing in a southwesterly direction empties into Owl creek near the village of Howard. Little Jelloway creek coming from the northwest, joins the big Jelloway near its mouth. Schenck's run crosses the southwestern part of the township, discharging its waters into Owl creek. Barney's run, coming from Harrison township, empties also into Owl creek. These streams, with their tributaries, make Howard one of the best watered townships in the county.

There was a permanent Indian encampment in this township, at the mouth of Indian Field's run. The Indians had cleared quite a large tract of land at this place, and raised large crops of corn and vegetables. Game was plenty, the Owl and Jelloway creeks abounded in fish, and altogether it j was a very desirable camping place for the red I man. There were also temporary encampments in | various places in this part of the county, especially along Owl creek and the Jelloway streams, where bands of Indians from Greentown, Upper Sandusky, and other places, would encamp during the hunting season.

There was a somewhat noted Indian named Tom Jelloway, in whose honor the Big and Little Jelloway creeks were named, who remained in this section of the county several years after the removal of his tribe to their western reservations. He became very much attached to the whites, adopted their dress, and, in a measure, their style of living, and refused to go when the Government removed the Indians in this part of Ohio to the west. He obtained his living principally by selling brooches, and other trinkets of Indian manufacture. He frequently visited at the Critchfields, Welkers, and other pioneer families in order to dispose of his wares.

Howard township was one of the best hunting grounds that could be found in the State at its settlement. The Critchfields, Welkers, and other pioneers were very successful hunters. A few years after Nathaniel Critchfield removed to this township, he one evening heard a hoc; squealing in the thicket near his residence. He seized his gun and started for the place from which the noise_ of the unhappy porker proceeded. Mr. Critchfield was soon near the bear, which had the hog still living in his embrace. He discharged the contents of his gun into old bruin, who, not appearing to feel any effects from the first shot, still continued holding the hog in his paws. He fired another shot which did not prove fatal, and reloading his gun he fired the third load into the bear before he succeeded in killing him. The bear weighed four hundred pounds, and his carcass yielded ten gallons of oil. On another occasion, Benjamin Critchfield and his brother Isaac were out hunting wild turkeys. They heard the cry of a panther, which was in the top of a tree a short distance from where they were standing. They each dreaded to fire the first shot, but was finally agreed that Isaac should shoot first, as he was an excellent marksman, and rarely missed a shot. He deliberately, but not without some trepidation, aimed his gun at the panther and fired. The ball penetrated the animal's brain and he fell from the tree dead. He was of enormous size, measuring eleven feet from tip to tip. This is said to be the only panther ever killed in Knox county by a white man.

Abraham Welker was probably the first white man to settle in Howard township. He came from Harrison county, Ohio, about 1806 or 1807, and located his farm on the Indian fields, near the mouth of the stream -by that name. This land had been cleared by the Indians and had been under cultivation for generations probably. He was thus saved the labor of clearing his land of the heavy forests, which was no inconsiderable item of labor and cost in those early days. At the time of Mr. Welker's removal to Howard township there were but a very small number of whites residing in the eastern part of Knox county. There were three or four families along Owl creek, in Butler township, and scattering ones elsewhere in the adjoining townships. Indians were encamped near his cabin. His younger children were unused to seeing whites, and his daughter, Mrs. Critchfield, now living in this township, says that that the children were much more alarmed at seeing a white man than they were at seeing an Indian. Mr. Welker died about 1820.

Paul Welker was another of the very first settlers, coming here about the same time that Abraham Welker did. He settled in the southern part of the township. He often related the following anecdote :

Some time after his removal to Howard township he was out hunting deer. He was not aware of any white man living nearer than the settlements on Owl creek in Butler township, and that of Abraham Welkers. He had chased a deer into a swamp when he was startled by the sound of an axe, in the hands of some one cutting wood. Not deeming it probable that any white man would settle in such a spot, he stealthily approached the place from whence the noise of the chopping came, expecting to see an Indian, but to his great and agreeable surprise he discovered a white man cutting logs for his cabin. This man was Simon Dudgeon, one of the pioneers and honored citizen^ of Harrison township. Although Welker expressed much surprise and made considerable sport at Mr. Dudgeon's selecting such a marshy location for a home, it proved to be a wise one, as Dudgeon became quite wealthy before his death.

were the Critchfields. They are very numerous in this township especially and in other portions of Knox county. Nathaniel, Isaac, John, Joseph and William, five brothers, emigrated from Maryland to this township about 1807 or 1808. Several of these brothers had been soldiers in the war of the Revolution, and had been inured to dangers and hardships while engaged in that struggle. They were well fitted to endure the toils and privations necessary in the settlement of a new and heavily timbered country. From these old pioneers have sprung the numerous families and individuals of that name in Howard and other townships of Knox county. Their descendants can be numbered almost by the hundreds. The pioneer Critchfields were athletic, industrious farmers and public-spirited citizens, and for many years after the first settlement of Howard township held a large share of the local offices. After Joseph Critchfield came to this township he built

I a cabin, cleared up a piece of land, and raised a crop or two of corn. He then went to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he was married. Procuring two horses, one for himself and one for his wife, he packed a few articles of furniture and utensils for cooking on the horses and they started for their new home in Ohio, making the entire trip on horseback, most of the way being through a dense forest. Nathaniel Critchfield was married to Miss Christina Welker at an early age. They raised a family of thirteen children. He held several townshij) offices, and was an active Democratic politician. He died about 1837. Isaac died a short time after his removal to the county. Benjamin Critchfield came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 18, 1797. He was also one of the earliest settlers, commg to Howard about 1808.

Isaac Dial, Uriah and Marvin Tracy, James Logue, James Wade, Benjamm Ellis, Philip Dial, George Lybarger, Jesse Enlon, John Stedman and Andrew Lybarger were early settlers. Of the later

I settlers were John Hull who came in 1830, Henry Eckenrode in 1833, George McFarland in 1835, John Durbin, Thomas McElroy, John Cassill, Martin Engel, Amos Workman, H. H. McArtor, Daniel McGugin and James Berry. As in the settlers were principally emigrants from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The absence of the foreign and New England element in the population of the eastern and southern townships is a notable feature.

For many years after the first settlement, the distilling of whiskey was a common business. At one time there were six oi eight distilleries in full blast in Howard township. One of the old distilleries, owned by a Mr. Hawn, is still standing near Millwood, and is now used for a barn. Some of the whiskey manufactured here was consumed at home, as whiskey wasa common beverage among all classes at that date, even the minister of the Gospel drank it. The remainder of the whiskey was hauled to Mt. Vernon and Newark and shipped from those places to various points. The distilling business was considered as respectable as any legitimate business. After the Washingtonian Temperance association was formed, and spread all over the land a great change of opinion occurred in the public mind, and the owners of these distilleries quit the business, and some of them became radical temperance advocates.

The first bridge in the township was built across Jelloway creek in 1830. The first grist-mill was built about 1815 by Nathaniel Critchfield. It was situated on the Little Jelloway creek. There is but one grist-mill in the township at this date, which is owned and operated by Rollin Critchfield. One of the first dwelling houses builc in Howard township is still standing about three-fourths of a mile north of the village of Howard. It is a log building, and was built by Benjamin Critchfield about 1 8 10.

The first brick house was erected by Benjamin Critchfield. Good and substantial brick and frame houses, have generally taken the place of the rude cabins of the early times, although a log house, lately erected, is occasionally seen, in this, as well as in all the townships in the eastern and southern portions of Knox county.

There are several iron and wooden bridges, which span the Big and Little Jelloway, Owl creek and other streams in this township placed at convenient distances, and which add much to the accommodation of the citizens and travellers. Although Howard has superior water privileges, and much valuable timber still standing, there are no manufactories but one grist-mill, and but a small number of portable sawmills in the township. Since the completion of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad through here, much of the oak timber has been made into staves and shipped to various points east and west, thus adding materially to the income of the farmers.

The first school-house in Howard township was a small log building, after the pattern of all primitive school-houses so often described in other chapters of this history. It was built on Joseph Critchfield's farm. The early school teachers were Joseph Dunlap, Nathan Heddington, William Williams, Mr. McDermott and Jacob Lyons. Therehad probably been school taught in the cabins of the pioneers, before the erection of this school-house. Among the scholars who attended the first schools taught in Howard, were Lewis. Lydia and Hannah Critchfield. The location of Kenyon college at Gambierwas a great advantage and blessing to the youth of this township. Being in the immediate vicinity, many of the young men of Howard availed themselves of the privilege to secure a collegiate education.

The Methodists were the religious pioneers of the township. At a very early day Rev James B. Finley and Rev. Anthony Banning and Absalom Waddle, Methodist ministers of considerable celebrity, occasionally preached to the pioneers. Rev. James B. Finley was one of the most energetic and useful of the preachers of that denomination in his day. He preached at many places in Ohio, was stationed for some time at Detroit, Michigan, and also had ministerial supervision of an Indian mission at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. This mission church of the Wyandots was mainly established by his instrumentality. He succeeded in causing the Government to appropriate money for this purpose.

Rev. Anthony Banning was one of the pioneer preachers of Knox county. He was not only an active worker in the cause of Christ but was extensively engaged in commercial operations and business pursuits, was an ardent advocate of the tern- perance cause, a zealous Whig politician, and was president of the first meeting held in this county in the interests of Henry Clay for President. He began to preach at the age of sixteen years in Virginia in the wild and mountainous portions of that State. He thus early imbibed that energetic spirit and resolute determination which are the almost universal characteristics of all the inhabitants of mountainous districts.

Rev. Waddle was a minister of much energy and usefulness. The first church in Howard township was built by the Methodists in 1830. It was located on the farm of Philip Brown two and onehalf miles east of Gambier. The farm on which it was built is now owned by Lewis Britton. Joseph and Philip Brown were the prime movers in the organization of this church. They came from near Hagerstown, Maryland, and were very zealous Methodists. Among the early members of the society were Isaac Critchfield, the Browns, and Peggy Miller; and such eminent ministers as Adam Poe, Russell Bigelow, and John H. Powers proclaimed the gospel of salvation to this church in its early history. Rev. Shafer, who was a great singer, and revivahst, was another of the early pastors. There was a graveyard attached to this church and quite a number of bodies interred therein. In the course time it became expedient to build a new and better church, and instead of placing it near the old one it was decided that it should be located at a more eligible point, a mile south of r^Ionroe Mills, in -Monroe township. The old log church and graveyard have disappeared and hardly a vestige of either remains to mark their former location.

The Jelloway church of the Disciples of Christ was organized in 1836 by Elders John Dawson and John McElroy. It is located near the Little Jolloway creek in the western part of this township. There were thirteen members at the time of organization, as follows : John McElroy and wife, George McFarland and wife, John Dawson and wife, Mrs. Nancy Cassill and her daughter, Nancy, Mrs. Ann Graham, Nancy McFarland, Louisa Dawson, Mary Dawson, and John Dawson, jr. The first officers were John McElroy, and John Dawson, elders; George McFarland, deacon. But four of the original members are now living. The first church was built about 1839. The society worshipped in this edifice until 187 1 when a new and more substantial building was erected. Elders Sanders, James Porter, Charles E. VanVoorhes, O. VV. Keyle, and

Rowe, have been pastors of the church. There is no pastor at this time. The Jelloway church has enjoyed a large measure of prosperity since its organization, but on account of the removal and death of many of its members it is not as numerically strong as at other times in its past history. There are nearly one hundred members at this date. A cemetery is attached to the church which was laid out about the time of its organization. The present officers are Robert Cassill, Smith Drake, and William Welsh, elders; James Dawson, Simon Spindler, and Lyman Barker, deacons. The Disciples of Christ is the leading denomination in Howard township. There are a large number of its citizens connected with the Millwood church in Union township in addition to those belonging to the Jelloway church, There is a lack of church edifices here, there being but two structures in the township.

Howard, formerly Kinderhook, is the only village in Howard township. The original name was changed at the time of the completion of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad through the village. It is situated in the southern part of the township, on the west side of Jelloway creek, and near Owl creek. The village did not amount to much until after the completion of the railroad, when it commenced to improve, and it has gradually increased in population since. Henrj' Warden built the first house in Kinderhook, at the time of its laying out, about 1836. He also kept the first store in the village. Ross Arbuckle was the first hotel keeper, and James Cassill the first tailor in Kinderhook. William Welker was the first shoemaker. Lafayette Emmett taught the first school. The village has a population of about one hundred and fifty at this time. There are two dry goods stores kept by William Ralston, and Insell & Critchfield; one hotel by John McNabb; one harness shop by Ed. Beerbower; two blacksmith shops by James Panorwood, and James Launtz; one restaurant by Thomas Blake; two wagon shops by C. Holbrook, and Thomas Wal" I lace; one cooper shop by Michael Cox; one boot and shoe maker, Samuel McGill; one livery and feed stable by John McNabb; one grain warehouse owned by Insell & Critchfield; two physicians, Frank Humbert and N. Hull. A fine iron bridge spans the big Jelloway creek at this place. A flourishing district school is sustained by the inhabitants.

The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Howard was organized in 1863. The first board of trustees were : Benjamin M. Morrison, president; A. B. Cumraings, secretary; L. D. Whitford, Francis Long, S. M. Vincent, J. S. Tilton. It remained a mutual company until 1868, when it was reorganized as a stock company, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. M. Critchfield was the first president, and Eli Pealer, the first secretary after the reorganization. The company recently closed up its business for want of proper support.

There is but one church in the village, the Free Methodist church of Howard, which was organized in 1S73, and is the only church of that denomination in the county. The first society of Free Methodists in this county was on Brush run in Butler townhship. In February, 1872, they held a series of meetings in that locality, and formed a class of seven members. Rev. B. R. Jones, of the Mansfield charge, preached the first Methodist sermon in the county, and had charge of this society during its first year. This society was soon after disbanded, and absorbed by the Howard organization. In August, 1875, they held a camp meeting in Moses Smith's grove near mills, and also another one in June, 1876, both of which meetings were attended by thousands. During the summer of 1877, they erected a church edifice at the village of Howard, B. F. Shipley, Kinsey Hartsman, now preaching in Michigan, and E. C. Shipley being the first trustees. Among some of the original members were Eugene, Benjamin, Emeline, Lizzie and Mrs. Mary Shipley, Sarah and Jane Waddle, and William Parmenter. Among the pastors of the Howard church have been: and J asper Hayden, the present one. The present officers are: Silas Workman, James Waddle and Benjamin Shipley, trustees; Mary Shipley and Silas Workman, stewards. Present membership eleven. The Free Methodists are bitterly opposed to the fashionable tendencies of the age, and prohibit the wearing of jewelry and ornaments by the members. They are also opposed to all secret societies. Their government is strictly democratic, the members having an equal voice with the ministers in all the councils of the church. Both the annual and general conferences are composed of an an equal number of laymen and ministers. Instead of presiding elders, they have chairman of districts, who generally have circuits as well as those they appoint.

Source changes here: from History Knox County, Ohio, by N. N. Hill., Jr, published 1881; 3,442 words in this source stream.

Howard Township

OWARD was originally a part of Union township, and now lies directly west of and joins it. It was erected into a separate township, and organized March 9, 1825. At the earliest election recorded in the township records, held in 1834, at the house of Nathaniel Critchfield, the following officers were chosen: trustees, George Lybarger, the first justices. For several years after the organization of Howard township, the trustees, clerk, treasurer, supervisor, and other township officers, donated their legal services to the township. The inhabitants, at that time, were comparatively poor, money was scarce, and it was about all they could do to support their families and pay state and county taxes, and the strictest economy was necessary in order to "make both ends meet."

The surface of this township is generally broken, but the ascents and descents are not as abrupt as in most of the eastern townships of Knox county. The soil is fertile, much of it being gravelly loam, which is peculiarly adapted for the growing of wheat and other cereals. The bottom lands of Owl creek, and the big and little Jelloway streams, produce very heavy crops of corn, etc. Howard township originally was well timbered, and at this date much valuable timber exists.

Owl creek, the principal stream of water, enters the township about the centre of its southern side, its course through Howard being north and east, leaving the township near the southeast corner. Big Jelloway creek enters the northeast corner of Howard, from Brown township, and flowing in a southwesterly direction empties into Owl creek near the village of Howard. Little Jelloway creek coming from the northwest, joins the big Jelloway near its mouth. Schenck's run crosses the southwestern part of the township, discharging its waters 'into Owl creek. Barney's run, coming from. Harrison township, empties also into Owl creek. These streams, with their tributaries, make Howard one of the best watered townships in the county.

There was a permanent Indian encampment in this township, at the mouth of Indian Field's run. The Indians had cleared quite a large tract of land at this place, and raised large crops of corn and vegetables. Game was plenty, the Owl and Jelloway creeks abounded in fish, and altogether it was a very desirable camping place for the red man. There were also temporary encampments in various places in this part of the county, especially along Owl creek and the Jelloway streams, where bands of Indians from Greentown, Upper Sandus-

There was a somewhat noted Indian named Tom Jelloway, in whose honor the Big and Little Jelloway creeks were named, who remained in this section of the county several years after the removal of his tribe to their western reservations. He became very much attached to the whites, adopted their dress, and, in a measure, their style of living, and refused to go when the Government removed the Indians in this part of Ohio to the west. He obtained his living principally by selling brooches, and other trinkets of Indian manufacture. He fre- - quently visited at the Critchfields, Welkers, and other pioneer families in order to dispose of his wares.

Howard township was one of the best hunting grounds that could be found in the State at its settlement. The Critchfields, Welkers, and other pioneers were very successful hunters. A few years after Nathaniel Critchfield removed to this township, he one evening heard a hog squealing in the thicket near his residence. He seized his gun and | started for the place from which the noise of the | unhappy porker proceeded. Mr. Critchfield was soon near the bear, which had the hog still living in his embrace. He discharged the contents of his gun into old bruin, who, not appearing to feel any effects from the first shot, still continued holding the hog in his paws. He fired another shot which did not prove fatal, and reloading his gun he fired the third load into the bear before he succeeded in killing him: The bear weighed four hundred pounds, and his carcass yielded ten gallons of oil. On another occasion, Benjamin Critchfield and his brother Isaac were out hunting wild turkeys. They heard the cry of a panther, which was in the top of a tree a short distance from where they were standing. They each dreaded to fire the first shot, but was finally agreed that Isaac should shoot first, as he was an excellent marksman, and rarely missed a shot. He deliberately, but not without some trepidation, aimed his gun at the panther and fired. The ball penetrated the animal's brain and he fell from the tree dead. He was of enormous size, measuring eleven feet from tip to tip. This is said to be the only panther ever killed in Knox county by a white man.

Abraham Welker was probably the first white man to settle in Howard township. He came from Harrison county, Ohio, about 1806 or 1807, and located his farm on the Indian fields, near the mouth of the stream by that name. This land had been cleared by the Indians and had been under cultivation for generations probably. He was thus saved the labor of clearing his land of the heavy forests, which was no inconsiderable item of labor and cost in those early days. At the time of Mr. Welker's removal to Howard township there were but a very small number of whites residing in the eastern part of Knox county. There were three or four families along Owl creek, in Butler township, and scattering ones elsewhere in the adjoining townships. Indians were encamped near his cabin. His younger children were unused to seeing whites, and his daughter, Mrs. Critchfield, now living in this township, says that that the children were much more alarmed at seeing a white man than they were at seeing an Indian. Mr. Welker died about 1820.

Paul Welker was another of the very first settlers, coming here about the same time that Abraham Welker did. He settled in the southern part of thetownship. He often related the following anecdote:

Some time after his removal to Howard township he was out hunting deer. He was not aware of any white man living nearer than the settlements on Owl creek in Butler township, and that of Abraham Welkers. He had chased a deer into a swamp when he was startled by the sound of an axe, in the hands of some one cutting wood. Not deeming it probable that any white man would settle in such a spot, he stealthily approached the place from whence the noise of the chopping came, expecting to see an Indian, but to his great and agreeable surprise he discovered a white man cutting logs for his cabin. This man was Simon Dudgeon, one of the pioneers and honored citizens of Harrison township. Although Welker expressed much surprise and made considerable sport at.Mr. Dudgeon's selecting such a marshy Iecation for a home, it proved to be a wise one, the Critchfields. * They are very numerous in this township especially and in other portions of Knox county.: Nathaniel, Isaac, John, Joseph and William, five brothers, emigrated from Maryland _ to_this township about 1807 01 or t 1808. Several of these brothers had been soldiers in the war of the Revolution, and had been inured to dangers and hardships while engaged in that struggle. They were well fitted to endure the toils and privations necessary in the settlement of a new and heavily timbered country. From these old pioneers have sprung the numerous families and individuals of that name in Howard and other townships of Knox county. Their descendants can be numbered almost by the hundreds. The pioneer Critchfields were athletic, industrious farmers and public-spirited citizens, and for many years after the first settlement of Howard township held a large share of the local offices. After Joseph Critchfield came to this township he built a cabin, cleared up a piece of land, and raised a crop or two of corn. He then went to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he was married. Procuring two horses, one for himself and one for his wife, he packed a few articles of furniture and utensils for cooking on the horses and they started for their new home in Ohio, making the entire trip on horseback, most of the way being through a dense forest. Nathaniel Critchfield was married to Miss Christina Welker at an early age. They raised a family of thirteen children. He held several township offices, and was an active Democratic politician. He died about 1837. Isaac died a short time after his removal to the county. Benjamin Critchfield came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 18, 1797. He was also one of the earliest settlers, coming to Howard about 1808.

Isaac .Dial, Uriah and Marvin Tracy, James Logue, James Wade, Benjamin Ellis, Philip Dial, George Lybarger, Jesse Enlon, John Stedman and Andrew Lybarger were early settlers. Of the later settlers were John Hull who came in 1830, Henry Eckenrode in 1833, George McFarland in 1835, John Durbin, Thomas McElroy, John Cassill, Martin Engel, Amos Workman, H. H. McArtor, Daniel McGugin and James Berry. As in the case in the other townships of eastern Knox, these settlers were principally emigrants from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The absence of the foreign and New England element in the population of the eastern and southern townships is a notable feature.

For many years after the first settlement, the distilling of whiskey was a common.business. At one time there were six o1 eight distilleries in 'full blast in Howard township. One of the old distilleries, owned by a Mr. Hawn, is still standing near Millwood, and is now used for a barn. Some of the whiskey manufactured here was consumed at home, as whiskey wasa common beverage among all classes at that date, even the minister of the Gospel drank it. The remainder of the whiskey was hauled to Mt. Vernon and Newark and shipped from those places to various points. The distilling business was considered as respectable as any legitimate business. After the Washingtonian Temperance association was formed, and spread all over the land a great change of opinion occurred in the public mind, and the owners of these distilleries quit the business, and some of them became radical temperance advocates.

The first bridge in the township was built across Jelloway creek in 1830. The first grist-mill was built about 1815 by Nathaniel Critchfield. It was 'situated on the Little Jelloway creek. There is but one grist-mill in the township at this date, which is owned and operated by Rollin Critchfield. One of the first dwelling houses built in Howard township is still standing about three-fourths of a mile north of the village of Howard. It is a log building, and was built by Benjamin Critchfield about 1810.

The first brick house was erected by Benjamin Critchfield. Good and substantial brick and frame houses, have generally taken the place of the rude cabins of the early times, although a log house, lately erected, is occasionally seen, in this, as well as in all the townships in the eastern and southern portions of Knox county. : nient distances, and which add much to the accommodation of the citizens and travellers. Although Howard has superior water privileges, and much valuable timber still standing, there are no manufactories but one grist-mill, and but a small number of portable saw-mills in the township. Since the completion of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad through here, much of the oak timber has been made into staves and shipped to various points east and west, thus adding materially to the income of the farmers.

The first school-house in Howard township was a small log building, after the pattern of all primitive school-houses so often described in other chapters of this history. It was built on Joseph Critchfield's farm. The early school teachers were Joseph Dunlap, Nathan Heddington, William Williams, Mr. McDermott and Jacob Lyons. There had probably been school taught in the cabins of the pioneers, before the erection of this school-house. Among the scholars who attended the first schools taught in Howard, were Lewis, Lydia and Hannah Critchfield. The location of Kenyon college at Gambier was a great advantage and blessing to the youth of this township. Being in the immediate

The Methodists were the religious pioneers of the township. Ata very early day Rev James B. Finley and Rev. Anthony Banning and Absalom Waddle, Methodist ministers of considerable celebrity, occasionally preached to the pioneers. Rev. James B. Finley was one of the most energetic and useful of the preachers of that denomination in his day. He preached at many places in Ohio, was stationed for some time at Detroit, Michigan, and also had ministerial supervision of an Indian mission at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. This mission church of the Wyandots was mainly established by his instrumentality. He succeeded in causing the Government to appropriate money for this purpose.

Rey. Anthony Banning was one of the pioneer preachers of Knox county. He was not only an active worker in the cause of Christ but was extensively engaged in commercial operations and business pursuits, was an ardent advocate of the tem- perance cause, a zealous Whig politician, and was president of the first meeting held in this county in the interests of Henry Clay for President. He began to preach at the age of sixteen years in Virginia in the wild and mountainous portions of that State. He thus early imbibed that energetic spirit and resolute determination which are the almost universal characteristics of all the inhabitants of mountainous districts.

Rev. Waddle was a minister of much energy and usefulness. The first church in Howard township was built by the Methodists in 1830. It was located on the farm of Philip Brown two and onehalf miles east of Gambier. The farm on which it was built is now owned by Lewis Britton. Joseph and Philip Brown were the prime movers in the organization of this church. They came from near Hagerstown, Maryland, and were very zealous Methodists. Among the early members of the society were Isaac Critchfield, the Browns, and Peggy Miller; and such eminent ministers as Adam Poe, Russell Bigelow, and John H. Powers proclaimed the gospel of salvation to this church in its early history. - Rev. Shafer, who was a great singer, and revivalist, was another of the early pastors. There was a graveyard attached to this church and quite.a number of bodies interred therein. In the course time it became expedient to build a new and better church, and instead of placing it near the old one it was decided that it should be located at a more eligible point, a mile south of Monroe Mills, in Monroe township. The old log church and graveyard have disappeared and hardly a vestige of either remains to mark their former location. -

The Jelloway church of the Disciples of Christ was organized in 1836 by Elders John Dawson and John McElroy. It is located near the Little Jolloway creek in the western part of this township. There were thirteen members at the time of organization, as follows: John McElroy and wife, George McFarland and wife, John Dawson and wife, Mrs. Nancy Cassill and her daughter, Nancy, Mrs. Ann Graham, Nancy McFarland, Louisa Dawson, Mary Dawson, and John Dawson, jr. The first officers were John McElroy, and John Dawson, elders; George McFarland, deacon. But four of the original members are now living. The first church was built about 1839. The society worshipped in this edifice until 1871 when a new and more substantial building was erected. -Elders Sanders, James Porter, Charles E. VanVoorhes, O. W. Keyle, and Rowe, have been pastors of the church. There is no pastor at this time. The Jelloway church has enjoyed a large measure of prosperity since its organization, but on account of the removal and death of many of its members it is not as numerically strong as at other times in its past history. There are nearly one hundred members at this date. A cemetery is attached to the church which was laid out about the time of its organization. The present officers are Robert Cassill, Smith Drake, and William Welsh, elders; James Dawson, Simon Spindler, and Lyman Barker, deacons. The Disciples of Christ is the leading denomination in Howard township. There are a large number of its citizens connected with the Millwood church in Union township in addition to those belonging to the Jelloway church, There is a lack of church edifices here, there being but two structures in the township.

Howard, formerly Kinderhook, is the only village in Howard township. The original name was changed at the time of the completion of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad through the village. It is situated in the southern part of the township, on the west side of Jelloway creek, and near Owl creek. The village did not amount to much until after the completion of the railroad, when it commenced to improve, and it has gradually increased in population since. Henry Warden built the first house in Kinderhook, at the time of its laying out, about 1836. He dso kept the first store in the village. Ross Arbuckle was the first hotel keeper, and James Cassill the first tailor in Kinderhook. William Welker was the first shoemaker. Lafayette Emmett taught the first school. 'The village has a population of about one hundred and fifty at this time. There are two dry goods stores kept by William Ralston, and Insell & Critchfield; one hotel by John McNabb; one harness shop by Ed. Beerbower; two blacksmith shops by James Panorwood, and James Launtz; one restaurant by Thomas Blake; two wagon shops by C. Holbrook, and Thomas Wallace; one cooper shop by Michael Cox; one boot and shoe maker, Samuel McGill; one livery and feed stable by John McNabb; one grain warehouse owned by Insell & Critchfield; two physicians, Frank Humbert and N. Hull. A fine iron bridge spans the big Jelloway creek at this piace. A flourishing district school is sustained by the inhabitants.

The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Howard was organized in 1863. 'The first board of trustees were: Benjamin M. Morrison, president; A. B. Cummings, secretary; L. D. Whitford; Francis Long, S. M. Vincent, J. S. Tilten. It remained a mutual company until 1868, when it was reorganized as a stock company, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. M. Critchfield was the first president, and Eli Pealer, the first secretary after the reorganization. 'The company recently closed up its business for want of proper support.

*There is but one church in the village, the Free Methodist church of Howard, which was organized in 1873, and is the only church of that denomination in the county. The first society of Free Methodists in this county was on Brush run in Butler townhship. In February, 1872, they held a series of meetings in that locality, and formed a class of seven members. Rev. B. R. Jones, of the Mansfield charge, preached the first Methodist sermon in the county, and had charge of this society during its first year. This society was soon after disbanded, and absorbed by the Howard organization. In August, 1875, they held a camp meeting in Moses Smith's grove near mills, and also another one in June, 1876, both of which meetings were attended by thousands. During the summer of 1877, they erected a church edifice at the village of Howard, B. F. Shipley, Kinsey Hartsman, now preaching in Michigan, and E. C. Shipley being the first trustees. Among some of the original members were Eugene, Benjamin, Emeline, Lizzie and Mrs. Mary Shipley, Sarah and Jane Waddle, and William Parmenter. Among the pastors of the Howard church have been: Reverends Burton, Jones, - - Frink, Ellsworth, - - - Leonardson, Nelson Woods and Jasper Hayden, the present one. 'The present officers are: Silas Workman, James Waddle and Benjamin Shipley, trustees; Mary Shipley and Silas Workman, stewards. Present membership eleven. The Free Methodists are bitterly opposed to the fashionable tendencies of the age, and_prohibit the wearing of jewelry and ornaments by the members. They are aiso opposed to all secret societies. Their government is strictly democratic, the members having an equal voice with the ministers in all the councils of the church. Both the annual and general conferences are composed of an an equal number of laymen and ministers. Instead of presiding elders, they have chairman of districts, who generally have circuits as well as those they appoint.