Jackson Township

Jackson Township

In honor of General Andrew Jackson, the Commissioners, on the 4th of September, 1815, erected this township. John Mills, Jacob Lepley, and Joseph Kerr were the first judges of election, and James Thomas and David Melick the clerks.

In 1816, there were 35 voters. Jacob Lepley was the first lister, and Abraham Carpenter first appraiser. This, the south-eastern township of the countv, is watered bv the Wakatomika ; the ground is generally rolling, but quite productive. In 1830 the inhabitants numbered 626 ; in 1810, 991 ; in 1850, 1,080 ; in 1860, 960. The only town and post-office is Bladensburg ; it contains 200 inhabitants.

Washington Houck kept the first tavern, in 1833, and continued it, with short intermission, till tlie present date. Tliomas Axtell kept the second house of entertainment, about 1838 ; he was a good citizen, and emigrated to Indiana. James Loveridge for a short time kept tavern ; and John Hannah now keeps the hotel.

The first goods sold in this town were by John Wheeler, who was for many years engaged in merchandising at Bladensburg. He took great delight in tlie militia trainings, being a captain ; in the Christian church, being an elder ; in the Whig party, being a committee-man. In all respects, long was John Wheeler a good citizen ; lie now lives, at an advanced age, in Iowa. The second store was carried on by W. Houck, who for twelve years sold goods. T. Axtell, Peter Berry, James Loveridge, Alphonso Byam, T. & 0. L. Marquand, have also sold goods there. The present merchants are, Mark Hammond and Samuel Richard.

The first Disci})le Church in the State was gotten up by John Wheeler, W. Houck, Elijah Harris, and their wives, about 1833. They have a neat Church edifice, of which the Rev. Yan Yoris is minister. The Presbyterians have also a church

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was the first house of worship built in the township. Thos. Axtell was the most active in getting up the church. James Elliott was mainly instrumental in building the O. S. Presbyterian meeting-house. The Methodists worship in the Presbyterian Church.

The present mechanics are, John Upfold, tailor ; Thomas Hilman, wagon-maker ; Lew. Husser and Wilson Hartupee, blacksmiths ; the Baltzells, Andrew, John and Joseph, and James Ross, shoemakers ; Lemuel Hall, carpenter ; Richard Mavis, cabinet-maker. A good school is kept up in the village, of which Mr. Camj)bell is teacher.

A grist-mill is in the town, formerly carried on by Houck, now by James Gaub. Within a half mile, another mill is carried on by Mr. Schooler.

Among tlie old citizens whose names should appear in this sketch, are Adam Early wine, Jacob Strieker, Gleorge and James Melick, William and Robert Wilson, Daniel Blue, John Hammel, Wm. Braddock, the Hills, the Horns, the McCammets, the Halls, the Dennys and Stephensons.

Washington Houck, of Huntington county, Pa., moved to Knox county, Clay township, in 1805, where he resided until 1833, when he moved to Jackson.

Joseph Scott, Wm. Eawdon, David and Daniel Strieker, Daniel Mossholder, Peter Miller, Philip Dennis, George Holt and Christian Baughman, have been citizens of long standing.

Source changes here: from History Knox County, Ohio, by N. N. Hill., Jr, published 1881; 3,754 words in this source stream.

Jackson Township

honor of General Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans. Topographically, the surface is broken, and in the southern portion of the township several large hills exist. The soil is productive and yields good crops of all the cereals. Valuable springs of water abound, one especially on the farm of William Darling being unusually large, and the source of a considerable stream. Several streams of water traverse the township, the largest being the Wakatomica. It rises in Coshocton county, running west across the township near to the line of Clay, thence south in a meandering course passing out of the township into Licking county. Jug run rises near the centre of the township and runs southeast into Coshocton county. Iron ore of superior quality is found in the hills near to the Licking and Coshocton county lines, and in such quantities that it may be profitable to mine it, although no one has yet attempted it.

Every part of Jackson was once densely wooded, oak, sugar and chestnut being the principal varieties. Although much of this timber has been cleared away, yet the hills along the Wakatomica and elsewhere in the township exhibit a large growth of oak and chestnut.

The early settlers killed large numbers of deer, bear and other animals. Though multitudes of reptiles have been killed in former years, still at this later period they are to be found. In September, 1880, John Farquhar found a_black-snake eleven feet in length, and after a desperate fight succeeded in killing it. Owing to the hills of Jackson township abounding with deer and other wild animals, it was a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, who came from the region about Greentown and Upper Sandusky in large numbers, often camping weeks at a time.

From the time of the first settlement to the present, large numbers of Indian relics have been found, farmers ploughing up great quantities of arrow points, wedges and other stone implements. The old Indian trail from Greentown through to Coshocton county passed across Jackson township.

' This trail the first settlers found very convenient for a guide when travelling. Evidences of ancient fortifications, are to be found, one especially, on the farm of Mrs I. Kerr, being the most remarkable. It is a wide trench encircling a small hill on which her present residence is situated. It extended completely around the hill, and was of such width as to make it quite formidable to the foe. Early settlers found it very plainly indicated, but frequent plowing has almost obliterated it. One or two small mounds are to be found in the northern part -of the township.

Robert Eaton is supposed to be the first white settler of Jackson. He came from Wheeling, West Virginia, in April, 1810, locating on section seven. He was one of the soldiers that helped to suppress the whiskey rebellion, and it is said, had seen General George Washington several times. After living many years in Jackson he emigrated to the west. Although Eaton had many opportunities of becoming rich, he did not succeed in amassing much wealth, being content to live on a small income.

David Meelick, the second settler, came to the township in August, 1810, settling on section seven. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government at two dollars per acre. He was one of the first two justices of the peace elected after the organization of Jackson township, and served-in that capacity several years. At the time of his coming, Jackson township was indeed a wilderness. The surface of the entire country was covered with a dense growth of hard wood timber ; larder. Being somewhat of a Nimrod, he succeeded in killing hundreds of deer, turkeys and other wild game. With the exception of Robert Eaton, the Indians were his only neighbors for some time after his arrival. It was his belief that the hills in the southern part of the township would remain an unbroken wilderness to all generations, but he lived to see them thickly settled. His_descendants are still numerous in the township.

Andrew McCamment was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He emigrated to Jackson township in 1819, selecting land in section nineteen. He was married August 19, 1816, to Rebecca Strain, of Brooke county, Virginia, by whom he had eight children: John S., Mary, William, Alexander, James, Sevenah, Hannah Jane, and Thomas Jefferson. Mr. McCamment died December 14, 1864, after a long life of industry and usefulness.

George Holtz was from Belmont county, where he was born in March, 1800. He removed to Coshocton county about the close of the last war with England, and to Jackson township in 1830. He entered eighty acres of Government land lying in the southern part of the township, and in a few years he purchased eighty acres more from the Government. He married Susan Mavisin in 1825, who bore him nine children.

Samuel Davidson was born near Baltimore, Maryland, November 4, 1788, and came to Jackson township in 1830, where he resided until his death August 8, 1880. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was in the battle of Bladensburgh.

William Hall was another of the early settlers of Jackson. He was born in Pennsylvania, and in 1809, when thirteen years of age, with his father, Obediah Hall, removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, remaining there until 1814, when he came to Jackson township. He settled in the southern part of the township. His family consisted of his wife and ten children, viz: Washington, Columbus, Jerome, Angenola, Benjamin F., Ruth M., Accious, Lane, Albert Fremont, and Abraham Lincoln.

Washington Houck, although not one of the first settlers, is one of Jackson's most prominent citizens, and has long been identified with its history. He was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania,

February 18, 1799. He visited Ohio in 1821, with one dollar and fifty cents in his pocket, walking the entire distance from Pennsylvania, returning home in November. Soon after, he sold his household and other goods, settled up all his accounts, and having but eight dollars, started for Ohio on the fourth of February, 1822. He landed in Hilliar township the twenty-fourth of that month, and resided there until the twentieth of July, when he removed to Clay, where he purchased eighty acres of Government land at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. After paying for his land, he had eighteen cents remaining but possessing extraordinary energy and perseverance he soon cleared his land, and has secured, a competence. At that date the growing of tobacco was the principal occupation of the farmers of Jackson and the southern townships of Knox county. Mr. Houck was once gone eleven days in two weeks, to tobacco house raisings. While in Hilliar township, he purchased a cow and yoke of oxen, and brought them to Clay. They got out of the enclosure, and after a search of ten days, he found them at their old home in Hilliar. He found but four houses in twenty-five miles travelling through the forests, but the few settlers that he did find were very clever and glad to see any one in their secluded homes. He subsequently sold his farm in Clay, and purchased some land on the site of the village of Bladensburgh, in Jackson township, where he erected a dwelling house, and also a hotel, engaging in that business several years. Healso engaged in the mercantile business many years. He still resides in Bladensburgh.

John Donahey entered eighty acres on section twenty-six in 1810. He came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was born June 27, 1799. He was probably the first settler who located land in the southern part of the township. His neighbors were the Indians, and the hills surrounding his habitation were full of wild animals and venomous serpents. He, like the other pioneers, killed large numbers of deer, bear, and turkeys. At that early date log-rollings and houseraisings were frequent, and Mr. Donahey spent much of his time assisting his neighbors in clearing their land and erecting their habitations. The work was often severe, owing to the scarcity of hands, but the festivities of the evening, after the conclusion of the day's toil, afforded ample recompense. He was married at an early age to Martha Rogers. They had nine children; five sons and four daughters. He died in Jackson township in 1873.

Peter Fry, who lived to be a centenarian, came to Jackson at an early period of its history. He was at St. Clair's defeat, and was forty years old at that time. He remembered many of the important events that transpired during the exciting period of the Revolution, and had often seen General Washington. He settled on section seven, but did not succeed in acquiring much property.

Thomas Nichols, still living in his eighty-eighth year, arrived from Virginia in 1828, and purchased his land from the Government. He settled in the southern part of Jackson, and still lives on the farm on which he first settled. Several of his children are still living in the township, in prosperous circumstances. For several years after first settling in Jackson he was troubled by wolves visiting his flocks of sheep at night and carrying away the choicest.

Jacob Stricker, Adam Earlywine, Robert Wilson, Joseph Scott, Daniel Massholder, Daniel Blue, Peter Miller, Christian Baughman, James Harris, John Wheeler, Elijah Harris, William Braddock, and Daniel Stricker, arrived at an early date, and a majority of them became prosperous.

William Darling, who came from Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1820, to Butler township, and from Butler to Jackson in 1835, has long been an influential citizen. He has served as justice of the peace fifteen years, and held other important local offices.

Johnny Appleseed was frequently a visitor in this township. One of his largest nurseries in Coshocton county being near this locality, he found a market for his apple-trees in Jackson. Many of the first orchards were started from trees procured from his nursery, and there are still trees remaining in several orchards that originally came from his Coshocton nursery.

the exact date being not nowremembered. There were but few settlers in the township then, and the damage done to dwelling houses and orchards was comparatively light, but many forest trees were prostrated, and cattle, horses and sheep killed.

The first grist-mill was erected by Samuel Wheeler about the year 1816, and the first sawmill by S. Brown about 1818. These mills were busily employed to meet the demands of the increasing population, both for flour and meal for the sustenance of the settlers, and lumber for their dwellings.

Samuel D. Ross built the first carding-mill in 1818. Prior to the building of these mills, the inhabitants were compelled to go to Mt. Vernon or Zanesville for their meal and lumber.

There are two or three small iron bridges that span the Wakatomica, and several wooden bridges spanning that stream and Jug run in the township, but no large bridges have been erected.

Until after the establishment of Bladensburgh in 1833, there were no stores in the township, and the settlers were obliged to go to Coshocton, Mt. Vernon, Zanesville and elsewhere for the purchase of the groceries, dry goods, and other necessaries for their families. About the year 1817, I. D. Johnson started a store in Martinsburgh, then a village of about half a dozen houses. He purchased all kinds of produce, paying cash for the same. At that time tobacco was the principal crop of the farmers of southern Knox, and large quantities were annually raised by them on their newly cleared lands. Mr. Johnson purchased all that was offered him, and it is said, thus enabled many farmers of Jackson and surrounding townships to pay for their farms, who, if it had not been for Johnson, would have been unable to pay for them, as money was very scarce, and produce very low.

The distilling of whiskey was another business in which the early settlers engaged. They could convert their cereals into a smaller bulk, and as there was always a ready sale for whiskey at remunerative prices, they found it more profitable to manufacture their grain into whiskey than haul it to distant markets and sell it at low rates. The last still-house disappeared many years ago.

entire township. This school was held in private houses, and no school-house was erected for many years. At first the only school-houses were built of logs of very primitive style, but these have been superceded by substantial frame buildings. The first school, as near as can be ascertained, was taught by William Braddock. He was rather illiterate, but could ''read, write and cipher to the rule of three," the "sum total" of his educational qualifications. He was induced to become a teacher more by the urgent solicitations of the pioneers, than by his own preference. Braddock continued the profession of teaching many years, and until it became necessary for teachers to have a certificate, when he ceased to be a pedagogue.

Abraham McLane was another of the early teach ers. His literary attainments were at par with Braddock's. He also continued teaching until certificates were necessary to enable teachers to draw public money for their services, when he also retired from the profession.

The people generally are a church-going people. There are five churches, three having an organized existence within the township limits, and two within the limits of Bladensburgh.

For many years after the first settlement there were no regular: church organizations. Preaching was held occasionally in the houses of the settlers. One of the first ministers to proclaim the gospel to the inhabitants of Jackson, was a Rev. Mr. Cunningham, a Presbyterian divine. He was a very plain man in his dress and habits, and of moderate talents and ability. Being poor it became necessary to devise means for his support. A subscription paper was drawn up and circulated among the people. One of the signers was proprietor of a small distillery. When his subscription became due, on demand, he refused to pay it. After repeated demands and refusals he was sued, judgment for the full amount of his subscription was obtained against him, execution was issued, and the constable, into whose hands it was given, levied on a barrel of whiskey, sold the same, and thus satisfied the debt.

Rey. James Fry, a Baptist, was another of the early ministers, who labored earnestly to lead the people to eternal life. The Methodists were early in the field, but did not erect a house of worship, holding their meetings in churches of other denominations, or at private dwellings. At one time they were quite prosperous, but at present there are but few in the township.

The first Disciple church in Ohio was organized in this township in August, 1828. At that date Alexander Campbell, and his co-laborers, were zealously laboring in Ohio and other States. A few copies of his paper, the Millennial Harbinger, were circulated in the township, and being carefully read, proved to be seed sown in good ground, yielding alarge increase. Elijah Harris, Washington Houck, and John Wheeler, with their wives, organized themselves into a Disciple church, which is claimed to be the first regular church organization of that denomination in this State. Rev. Charles Van Voorhes, still living, was the first pastor, and only preacher for many years.

Another Disciple church, known as Dennis chapel, was organized about 1830. It is situated in the southwestern part of the township. William D. Beatty and George Eley were the first elders, and William Braddock and Benjamin Eley the first deacons. Rev. James Porter was the first pastor, and continued in that capacity until 1839, when he was superceded by Rev. Charles Van

At the first organization of this church there were about twenty members. At this date the organization has nearly one hundred members in full connection. A small frame church was erected soon after the organization, which was replaced by one thirty-six by forty feet in dimensions some years since. There is a flourising Sunday-school in connection with this church, S. E. Bell, superintendent.

The first Union church of Jackson township, was organized about 1870. The first trustees were John S. McCament, Uriah Blue, Henry Holtz, J. F. Way and Ephraim Anderson. John Way, Uriah Blue, and Jonathan Traver were the first elders. Rev. George Stevenson was the first pastor, succeeded by Revs. Ambi Welch, J. B. Clover, James Lamp, and Allen Mann, who is present pastor.

In 1879 a neat and commodious structure was erected in the southeastern part of Jackson, known as the Mt. Zion church. It was built for the accommodation of the people resident in that locality, and belongs to no particular denomination. The first and also the present trustees were Simon Ashcraft, Perry Harris, and William Mercer.

The first village in Jackson township was Front Royal. It was located on the farm of William Darling, in the northern part of the township, about the year 1832. It had a small store, blacksmith shop, and several dwellings. It flourished for some years, but owing to a deficiency in the title of the village lots the village was abandoned, and not a vestige of it remains to mark its location.

Bladensburgh was laid out in 1833 by John and Samuel Wheeler and Washington Houck. The village lies in both Jackson and Clay townships, the main part being in Jackson. Washington Houck built the first house. Mr. Houck first started a blacksmith shop, and after a few months engaged in the keeping of a hotel. After following this business many years he engaged in the mercantile business.

John Wheeler started the first store in Bladensburgh in 1833. He was for many years a prominent citizen, Whig politician, and a zealous worker in the Disciple church. He subsequently removed to Iowa, where he died some years since. Mr. Wheeler was the first postmaster of Blandensburgh, and Washington Houck was the first mail carrier. He carried the mail once a week from Blandensburgh to Martinsburgh, a distance of four miles, performing the journey on foot, and received as compensation eight dollars for eighteen months service.

A flourishing mill was erected on the bank of the Wakatomica, on the present site of the village, prior to the location of the place. It is now operated by Messrs. Anderson & Darling.

1841. He is a son of Rev. James Scott, the pioneer Presbyterian preacher of Knox county. Dr. Scott has been a very successful physician, and still has a large and lucrative practice. He has served as justice of the peace, and held other offices.

Ohio Lodge, No. 199, Free and Accepted Masons, at Bladensburgh, commenced work under dispensation dated July 19, 1850, granted by the Most Worthy Grand Master M. Z. Kreider. The officers by dispensation were: Eli Farnham, W. M.; A. C. Scott, S. W.; Peter Berry, J. W.

Organized under charter by Mr. Henry Barton, proxy for Grand Master, on the third day of November, 1851, under charter dated October 28, 1851. Its first officers were installed on that evening, and were: Eli Farnham, W. M.; A. C. Scott, S. W.; Peter Berry, J. W.; William Underwood, treasurer; James Loveridge, secretary; Obed Underwood, S. D.; D. J. Bentz, J. D.; Alexander Mc- Cament, tyler.

Following are the worthy masters of Ohio Lodge with terms of service: Eli Farnham, seven years; A. C. Scott, fifteen years; Levi Mercer, one year; Daniel Paul, two years; John G. McGaw, one year; E. W. Hall, one year; N. K. Kamsey, two years; Schooler Horn, elected November, 1879.

The following have served as secretaries: James Loveridge, Josephus Wheeler, Isaac N. Huey, John H. Miller, R. S. Conner, S. T. Schooler, R. D. Mavis, J. Fox Scott, Alexander S. Kerr, D. H. Tuttle, John W. Scott, F. P. Hess, George McCament, W. A. Harris. ;

This lodge has been fairly prosperous. It now owns one of the finest buildings in the village, erected three years ago, and is acknowledged to have the best arranged and finest finished lodge hall in the county.

'order is prosperous and numbers many of the substantial farmers of Jackson and adjoining townships as members. Several successful fairs under the auspices of this grange have been held at Bladensburgh since its organization.

For a long time after the village was started the village school was held in a small frame building, which was replaced by a large and substantial structure in 1878, now known as the Bladensburgh Union school. Professor Kennon, of Belmont county, is the principal.

There are two churches in the village - Disciple and Presbyterian. The first, known as the first Disciple church in Ohio, is described elsewhere in this chapter. It was organized before the village had an existence, and the present church building was erected some years after the founding of the town. It enjoys a good degree of prosperity at the present date.

The Presbyterian society was organized in 1846, and was originally an outgrowth of the Presbyterian church of Martinsburgh. Rev. Henry Hervey, pastor of the Martinsburgh church, having preached a sermon on "the evils of war," denuaciatory of the war with Mexico, then in progress, gave such offence to a portion of the members of his church, that several seceded and organized a society at Bladensburgh. This society soon after erected the present church building. Rev. James Anderson was the first pastor. He was succeeded by Revs. Densmore, Brough, and Brombarger. The church has no pastor at present.

There are three dry goods and one grocery store, one jewelry establishment, two hotels, one barber shop, one millinery store, one harness and several blacksmith shops, also one grist- and one saw-mill. Its present population is about two hundred. Although Bladensburgh is a small village it is an enterprising one. Being at a considerable distance from any large town, large numbers of farmers do their trading at this place.

In February, 1869,a murder was committed which caused much excitement at the time. S. L. Roley, @ very passionate and bad-tempered man, killed Joshua Cackler. Roley became offended at Cackler because of some slight misunderstanding concerning a trivial affair, when he procured a club, and, striking Cackler on the head, caused his death in a short time. Roley was caught after. he had fled to another State, was brought back to Knox county, had his trial, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two years imprisonment in the penitentiary.