Jefferson Township

Jefferson Township

WITHIN the limits of Jefferson township are evidences that clearly point to the existence here, in ages past, of a race of people concerning which little is now definately known; evidence not only of their mere inhabitancy here, but of extensive mining operations, as well, for the material from' which their rough weapons were fashioned; evidences that the vein of flint-rock which lies embedded in the geological strata underlying the township was mined by these pre-historic ]*eople from most of the many hills that cover the farms of Cononel Pren Metham, R. B. Whitaker and Mrs. Criss, located in the southern central part of the township. The veins of fiint are in width from four to six feet; sometimes located close to the top of the hill ; at other times near the base. Opposite the seam where the flint has been mined the ground is thrown back forming a kind of ridge or embankment, which has lead some, who have noticed them, to beheve them to have been fortifications; but a careful examination by Colonel Metham and others produced convincing testimony that the mining of the flint, concealed in the heart of the hills, was the cause of the disturbed condition in the natural slope of the hill- side, for wherever these apparent embankments or ridges have been examined, as most of them have, the flint bed is invariably present; more than that, in the cave-like openings from which the flint has been taken, ashes and charcoal are always found ; also large, hard river rocks, greatly scarred and dinged. The flint vein is a considerable distance above the drift formation and the presence of these bowlder rocks here can be accounted for only by supposing them to, have been brought here by human agency. Moreover their much battered up appearance indicates usage for some purpose.

The process of obtaining the flint that seems most probable from these facts, is the one suggested by Colonel Metham. Large fires were built in these underground excavations, close to the solid wall of flint, until the latter became thoroughly heated, when the expansion would produce fissures or cracks in the wall; or perhaps these were produced by sudden contraction caused by casting water against the heated surface. The large, scratched bowlders were then used by the pre-historic miners in lieu of hammers, to break off fragments from the cracked wall, by hurling them against it. The pieces thus obtained, were then carried elsewhere to be worked into arrow points, spear-heads, etc. At the summits of many of the hills are found large beds of these flint fragments, where perhaps they were broken into smaller pieces from which the darts were fashioned at the "arrowmakers." That these shops were abundant in this vicinity is made manifest by the numerous piles of spawls or flint chips, togother with large quantities of the arrow-heads, some in a finished, others in an unfinished state, which are found very plentiful, usually near a rock-bed. Small, hard stones, generally granitic, much worn and nicked, are found also among the chips. They were probably used in chipping off the flints. In quarrying a bed of sandstone rock near his house. Colonel Methan discovered in a crevice a large "nest" of these flints,' a portion of them beautifully finished, others rude and incomplete.

The extent of this mining was prodigious. Colonel Castell, who was engineer of the Dresden branch of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware railroad, examined the remains and estimated that the amount of work indicated by these, if performed at present, would require an expenditure of not less than $1,000,000.

"Here the ancient arrow -maker Made his arrow-heads oJ quarts rock- Arrow-heads ol chalcedony- Arrow-heads of chert and jasper- Smoothed and sharpened at the edges, Hard and polished, keen and costly."

About six years ago, a considerable amount of capital was expended by Mr. Swaim, of Tuscarawas county, and others, in prospecting for mineral wealth among these hills. None was found. Close to the spring, situated about forty rods south of Colonel Metham's residence, is found a bed of broken-up river and sand-stone, none of the pieces larger than a man's fist. Traces of several fluke-like channels through the bed were discernable, in which were streaks Of ashes, charcoal and soot. A careful analysis of the soot was made, with the hope of finding mineral depsoits of some kind, but none were revealed. About the only "find" in the vicinity was a small fragment of ancient pottery. The conjecture that this may have been a pottery furnace is scarcely warrantable; for, if so, remains of pottery should exist in greater abund? ance. Similar beds are found in several other localities, one on the same farm, one on Washington Darling's farm, north of the river, and another on Joshua Clark's place, in New Castle township, all adjacent to a spring of water.

On the peak of the hill which rises east of Colonel Metham's residence is a stone mound, about eighteen feet in diameter and five in depth. Several ineffectual attempts were made to explore it, before 1855, at which time Rev. Boggs and Colonel Metham made a thorough investigation of it. It was found be a sepulchral mound, containing the mortal remains of one of the departed great.. The mound was a solid piece of masonry, composed of horizontal layers of sandstone, the crevices in which were filled with pounded-up sandstone. Near the base of the mound, a stone sepulchre was found. The bottom of it consisted of a large, flat sandstone ; slabs of the same material, placed upright upon their edges, constituted the sides and ends. Across the top were other flat stones. Encased in this enclosure, was found a portion of a human skeleton, consisting of pieces of the skull, the thigh bone, teeth, and a few other fragmentarybones. From a careful examination of the * thigh bone, the length of the skeleton was estimated to be over seven feet. The entire set of teeth were molars, there being no incisors among them - a characteristic, it is said, of the Aztec race. Another particularity was, that the length of the upper and lower jaw was the same. A few flint darts and stone "shuttles" were also found in the coffin.

Across the river from these remains, on Robert Darling's farm, are other traces of this unknown -people. Along the crest of the ridge that overlooks the river are piled large, irregular masses of sandstones. Upon the highest of these, which rises perpendicularly twenty feet from the side that faces the river, but which from the other side can be reached by a less abrupt ascent by clam- "bering up over rough masses of sandstone, are the remains of a semi-circular wall. It is three or four feet in width, about the same in height, and consists of large, irregularly-shaped, flat stones. The diameter of the circle is perhaps thirty feet. The wall faces the side from which the summit may be reached. Whether this was a stronghold of the Mound Builders, where they made a last but unavailing stand against hordes of barbarous northern invaders, or whether it was a place for offering up human sacrifices or performing religious rites, will probably never be known.

The view from this point is wild and imposing. ^ The ridge is still covered with the forest, and between the trees along the summit of the ridge, and in many places upon the hill-side, nature has lavishly scattered large masses of time-worn sand- : stone rocks, some in places jutting out badly from the crest or side of the ridge, others again in a position, seemingly about to fall with terrific crash to the base below. The peaceful bosom of the romantic Walhonding lies several hundred feet beneath and beyond it. A level stretch of valley recedes till it reaches the bluffs that rise on the opposite side.

The Walhonding river, flowing eastward from New Castle township, cutting its channel through the Waverly sandstone, divides the township into two nearly equal parts. Two runs. Darling and Beaver, are its tributaries from the north; it has also two from the south, Mohawk and Simmons'. Another small stream, called Flint run, enters Simmons' run about a mile from its mouth.

The roughest land in the township is that which skirts the river valley. On either side it rises abruptly, forming steep, high ridges. These continue northward undiminished in size, making the land in this part of the township very hilly. To the south, however, the roughness wears away as the land recedes from the river, and the surface becams rolling in character.

The valley of the Walhonding, from a half mile to a mile in width, is one of the richest in the State. By those who are acquainted with both it is said to fully equal in productiveness the noted valley of the Miami. The soil in the main is a black, sandy loam, with gravelly sand in spots, here and there. Along the base of the bluflfs is a narrow strip, subsoiled with blue clay. The soil on the south of the river, between Mohawk run and Simmons' run, is as rich as can be found anywhere on steep lands. The outcroppings are fossiliferous limestone, flint and cannel coal, the best possible combination to enrich a soil Sandstone is the principal outcroping north of the valley, and the soil there is not so good.

Most of the hill tops north of the river wej'e devoid of timber when the first settlers arrived, being covered only with small bushes, in some places not even these. Beds of wild strawberries grew in rich profusion and huckle berries also were abundant in places. South of the river the surface was timbered, and it is a remarkable fact that in early days there was no underbrush worth speaking of here. The forests seemed like immense groves, so that game could be seen at a great distance. Since then, however, an almost impenetrable thicket has sprung up on the land that has not yet been cleared.

A greater diversity of timber than usually prevails on steep lands in one locality was found on these southern hills, embracing nearly every variety that flourishes in this region except cottonwood and sycamour. Along the edge of the valley is found the black oak, swamp oak and swamp ash and closer to the river burr oak, black walnut, sycamore, cottonwood, hickory and other varieties.

Jefferson township was organized in 1826. The northern half consists of congress land which was surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. The southern half comprises two military sections. Of these, the eastern was located by Colonel William Simmons in 1800, and settled by him years after.

The western is known as the Bell section. The patent for it was granted April 2, 1800, to Cairnon Wedwell, of Philadelphia, who conveyed it the same year to John Duncan, a broker of Philadelphia. The following year he sold to John Bell, a resident of the same city, all of the section except the one-twelfth part off the western side, Tvhich had been deeded to Martin Baum. It remained in Bell's possession about thirty-five years, during which time, however, he sold a considerable part of it to different parties, through his agent, Pren Metham, who moved to the township in 1823. In 1837, the residue, consisting of over 2,200 acres, came into the possession of a Scotch-Irish colony of settlers, consisting of James and John Moore, James and William Given, James and William Thompson, and Mrs. Anderson, all related to each other, who emigrated from Tyrone county, Ireland, to Marshall county, Virginia, in 1836, and soon after to this township. They were an intelligent, energetic and industrious people, who off this large tract and paid for it since their arrival here. It is still owned by their descendants.

The Darlings were among the foremost settlers to locate in the Walhondihg valley. The family consisted of Robert Darling, his wife and twelve children, William, Abram, Jonathan, Jacob, James, Isaac, Thomas, Robert, Mary, who married Nicholas Miller, of Keene township, Sophia, the wife John Hork, an early settler of this township, Mrs. Samuel Severns, who also lived in this township, and Mrs. Aaron Loder. The last mentioned daughter is the only survivor of this large family. She is quite an old, though active lady, and resides in Jackson township. They moved from Virginia in 1806, and settled in the bend north of the river, on the Bell section. The place is still held in the Darling name.

Two of the boys, Jonathan and Willjam, first came out in the spring of the year, and raised the crop of corn; then, in the fall, the rest of the family crossed the mountains, by team, or on horseback. Mary, then a miss of eighteen summers, drove a fonr-horse team, loaded with family goods. The mother, it is said, made the journey on horseback, having an infant on the horse, before her, and a little boy, Thomas, holding on to her, as he rode behind. Of the boys,' William and Jonathan bore arms for their country, in 1812. While they were encamped at Sandusky, their younger brother, Abram, rode out to them on horseback, for the purpose of taking them some stockings. These three sons soon after moved farther west, the others remaining in Coshocton county, where many of their descendants still live, entering largely into the social fabric of the Walhonding valley, as well as other localities. They were all farmers, and men of sterling worth, noted, far and wide, for their strict integrity. Thomas, for a number pf years, served the county as a commissioner. He was also much interested in blooded cattle, and introduced some valuable stock into the valley in which he lived.

John Elder emigrated from Ireland to Virginia in 1804, and thence came, with the Darlings, to the Walhonding valley, iDj 1806. After making several other locations, he settled in Jefferson township. He died in 1851, on his farm, now occupied by his son, Cyrus Elder, a little west of Warsaw. He was a full-blooded, county Antrim, Presbyterian. He was twice married and reared a large family, still prominent in the township. During the war of 1812, he spent some months in hauling supplies to the soldiers.

The Merediths, six or seven in number, came to the Walhonding valley about 1807 or 1808. Thr.ee of them, David, Stephen and Abner, settled in Jefferson township, the others in New Castle. David afterward moved to Indiana. Stephen and Abner settled close to the site of Mohawk village and died there. Abner was a hunter of note, on friendliest terms with the Indians, and often pursued the wild game in their company. He once went with a band of Indians, up Killbuck creek, on a hunting expedition, which resulted Very successfully, a large number of deer having been killed. As the evening drew near, he was invited to remain till morning with his companions. The Indians determined on having a jollification over the day's sport, and dispatched several of their number to Charlie Williams', at Coshocton, for the means of celebrating ^a good supply of whisky. Meredith, who was an athlete, in the meantime had engaged in the manly sport of wrestling with those who remained ; had displayed a strength and skill in the art which none of them could equal, and his success in throwing them humiliated and angered them somewhat. Repeated potations of the fiery liquid intensified rather than assuaged their anger, and the squaws frequently obtained the knives of their boisterous consorts and secreted them. A half-breed, who was present, fearing for Meredith's safety among the now intoxicated, quarreling savages, invited hirn to stay at his cabin, about a mile distant, that night. Mr. Meredith discreetly concluded that this was not a proper place for him to remain, so he quietly slipped away, late as it was, and did not stop until he reached his brother's cabin, near Mohawk.

Joseph Butler, from Virginia, emigrated as early as 1806, and settled on section 15, congress land, just below Washington Darling's residence. His father, Joseph, and his brother, Isaac, soon after came to this latter place. Isaac Butler, met with a sad fate in 1809. While crossing the ford near his residence, he was thrown from his horse into the stream and drowned. This was probably the first death that occurred in the township. He left a. wife and three children.

Colonel William Simmons, a Virginian, who had served in the Revolutionary war as a colonel, received for his services " Simmon's section," the southeastern quarter of the township, and settled thereon about 1819. His was one of the few families who brought a carriage with them to the county ; he also brought several slaves. He is described as quiet and gentlemanly in his deportment, inclined to be hasty at times, somewhat aristocratic, and an ardent Whig in politics. The home farm was situated north of the river, the place now owned by James Frew. He died at a good old age and was buried on his farm. Charles W. Simmons, a son, was a West Point graduate, and subsequently became the proprietor of a hotel at Roscoe ; represented the county in the legislature in 1831, and afterward removed to Indiana, where he attained prominence as a politician. The only other son was William. A daughter was married to General William Carhart, the proprietor of Warsaw.

Thomas Treadway, came at an early day from Maryland; began life with a small start in the way of worldly goods, but by his industry and good business qualities, afterward acquired a goodly share of the Simmons' section. James Whitaker settled early, in the southern part of the Bell section. Anthony Ryne occupied that part of section 15 which lies south of the river.

The river lands were, in general, settled earliest on account of their great fertility and level surface; yet there were exceptions to this. Some of the se'ttlers regarding the low bottoms as malarial and unhealthy, preferred to perch their cabins among the hills, several miles back from the stream. One of these was John Severns, who settled very early in the northern part of section 3. The bulk of the rough congress land, however, occupying the northern part of the township, remained unsettled until the time of the building of the Walhonding canal. It was then taken up in small tracts, and oco ipied mostly by German emigrants, many of whom were employed in constructing the canal. These small property owners were usually without any means when they arrived; and during .the first four years, before crops could be planted and raised, or by reason of their failure, were often in great want. It was not an uncommon thing for them to approach their more fortunate neighbors in the river-bottoms in mid-winter, and ask for corn or wheat, agreeing to pay for it in work the next summer. The Darlings and other families, by their generosity in furnishing these and other necessities to their indigent neighbors, obtained their lasting gratitude. This was displayed to an undue extent sometimes, as in the following instance: One of the Germans, on being asked just before an election how he intended to vote, replied, " I votes for Shake Darling," meaning for Darling's choice. One poor unfortunate, who lived within reach of the malarious river, had stranded his resources in mid-winter, and in making his wants known, dolefully remarked that if he,could get enough corn to keep him till "chills set in," he would be all right, as he could not then eat anything.

Postopfice, Canal Lewisvillb

He was born in Lafayette township, this county, in 1811, and was married in 1833, to Fanny G. Thompson, who was born in Ohio, in 1811. They have three children - Mary, Francis, Jr., and Samuel T. Mr. McGuire was not favored with an opportunity to receive a liberal education, but is a progressive farmer in every department. He has given close attention to raising and improving stock of all kinds; his experience, close attention and application in this branch have been crowned with success. He is the half owner of the noted Clydesdale horse. His pedigree reads as follows: "Emperor was foaled in 1877, sired by imported Clydesdale Stallion, Napoleon. Emperor's dam sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Netherly; 2d dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Conqueror ; 3d dam, sired by imported Clydesdale Btallion Sir William Wallace ; 4th dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion, Robin BJood ; 5tli dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Old Clyde." He has devoted a great deal of attention to raising and improving his stock of sheep and cattle. He has on his farm as good stock as the State can produce. Mr. McGuire .owns a large farm under a good state of cultivation and with good buildings, and is one of the leading, active and prominent farmers of this county.

His father, Francis McGuire (deceased), was a native of Virginia. He emigrated to Ohio in 1804, and settled in this township and remained here until his death, in 1853. He purchased eleven hundred acres of land which his children still own.

A needy creature named Carter, without a -cent in the world, had obtained wheat several times from John Elder, and once more came to !him with two.others, equally needy. Mr. Elder replied to their request for food that he was unacquainted with them. " Never mind," said Carter, " I'll stand good for them." The wheat was furnished and paid for too.

A Mr. Eichardson, who was an early settler, had two hoys, Joe and Lige, whom he sent one morning into the woods to find the horses, turned -out the evening before with bells around their necks. A gun was given Joe, the older, more through habit than because it was thought he might have occasion to use it. The boys, when they were some distance in the woods, saw a bear, ^amusing itself by scraping up the ground and JoUing on it. They had never before seen a specimen of this family of the brute creation, and did not know what it was, but, with a courage that -did honor to them, they slowly and quietly approached within easy shooting distance, when -Joe laid the rifle across a log, took deliberate aim and fired. The bear rose up and with a loud snort started off. The courage of the boys now them, and thoroughly frightened, they -dropped the gun and started for home at the top their speed. Lige, the swifter of the two, reached the house first, and seeing his father, yelled out excitedly that Joe had shot the devil. "Mr. Eichardson, after quieting the boys, accompanied them back to the scene of the exploit. Oun, hats, etc., were found scattered about, and ^oing a little farther the bear was seen lying dead. 'The youthful hunters, when informed of the 1 I -character of their game, were highly elated.

A history of the Walhonding valley would be incomplete if mention were not made of the prominent part played by " the cup that cheers " -and does inebriate. Whisky was an " institution," 'heartily endorsed and sustained in practice by the -early settlers of the valley, almost without exception. Every well-to-do farmer kept it, by the barrel, in his cellar, and drank it as freely as water. It was pardonable in those times to neglect to invite a visiting neighbor to dine, but an unpardonable breach of backwoods etiquette was -committed if he was not offered to partake of the -contents of the flowing bowl. The places were numerous where it could be purchased ; not only public taverns, but many private dwellings, where nothing else was sold, kept a supply to satisfy the great demand. The road up the Walhonding river was greatly traveled in early times by emigrants moving farther west, and taverns were located all along the road. One of the most noted of these was Eckman's tavern, situated north of the river, about two miles west of Warsaw. It was a popular place of public resort, and in the early days of Jefferson township, was the place for. holding elections. The tavern remained until the building of the Walhonding canal, the route of which passed through the site of the building, which consequently had to be torn down. Eckman owned about three acres here, which was condemned by the State, and paid for in full.

A tavern was opened at Warsaw by Eufus Eldridge during the construction of the canal. The first day, as is customary at such times, there was an " open bar," and everybody was invited to drink freely and without price ; consequently, most people in the vicinity indulged that day in a general - good time. A constant use of the beverage, it is said, makes the stomach less sensitive to its effects and the brain less giddy than the first dram. Betsy Smith illustrates this fact. She was the wife of James Smith, was a washerwoman, and lived near Eckman's tavern. A pint of good whisky was always the one thing needful when there was a washing to do. She once attended a wool-picking at Thomas Darling's, where she was invited to sip her favorite beverage. Betsy tasted it repeatedly, then exclaimed petulently that the whisky was not worth anything, for she had taken eight or ten big swallows, and for the life of her she couldn't get the taste of it.

One of the township's prominent citizens, when a boy, rode several weeks with a teamster who was engaged in hauling wheat to Coshocton. The invariable custom was to stop at Eckman's for a drink ; then at Warsaw, two miles below ; then at Nathan Spencer's, in Bethlehem township, where John Bantum now lives ; next, where Samuel Burrell lives. Finally, a good, strong pull a short distance across the river, must content him till he reached Coshocton. The same formula was strictly observed, inversely, on the return ; and over and over again, day after day. The boy was generally pressed to drink too, and now considers it marvelous that the habit did not ruin him, as it did too many of his early associates. Jefferson was no worse in this respect than other townships ; and a great revolution has been wrought in public sentiment since then. It would perhaps be impossible to find two gallons of whisky now in the whole valley, outside of the several saloons that still infest the country. David Meredith at an early day erected a small grist-mill on Mohawk run, near the present village of Mohawk. Some years later, Hon. James Moore built a small saw mill on the same run, about a mile below. Another little grinder was operated by Robert Darling, on Darling run. It was of sufficient size, however, to grind wheat. The mills located at Warsaw are noticed farther on in this chapter. The only mill known to have been located on Simmons' run was a saw-mill owned by the Brickers. It was destroyed by fire.

One of the earliest schools in the township, in all probability the first, was held in the cabin that had been occupied by Isaac Butler, in the western part of the township. The children of the Butlers, Darlings and others attended here. In 1814, or 1815, it was taught by Oliver Remington, from Rhode Island, a well educated, intelligent man. He was a brother-in-law to 'Squire Humphrey, of New Castle township, and remained here only two or three years, removing to Holmes county.

Another school, situated north of the river, not far from its banks, was taught by Ben Vial, a tippling character, who often came to his daily task under the influence of his arch enemy. Notwithstanding his pedagogic profession, it is said he reared a family of children who could neither read nor write. James McCoy, afterward proprietor of the Warsaw hotel, was also an early teacher of this school. The ordinary complaint against some of the teachers in those times was that they used the rod too sparingly. Mr. McCoy furnished no grounds for complaint of this kind. He was a severe disciplinarian, and applied the whip freely when occasion demanded or opportunity offered, and thus won the confidence and esteem of the community in which he lived; but

Henry Yonkers was the "star" teacher, for he possessed the requisite qualifications in a preeminent degree, being six feet three inches in height, and built in proportion. His .towering strength, frequently displayed, succeeded in keeping his unruly pupils within the bounds of tolerable behavior. Outside of the school-room hs' was quiet in his demeanor. He engaged in farming upon the cessation of his school-room duties, and about 1850 removed from the county. Upon the premises of Pren Metham were several tenement houses which were subsequently C3n verted into school buildings and used as suob for many years. The furniture was of the simplest description. Rough boards, fastened witb wooden pins to the rude walls, served as writing desks. The seats were of a decided rustic cast, consisting of narrow slabs, supported by legs so long that the average sized pupil could not touch the floor by six inches. Here the children of the last generation uncomplainingly sat, without rest for back or feet, day after day. What a contrast with the pleasantly and comfortably furnished school-rooms of to-day.

The cannel coalj which lies in rich, abundant fields among the hills of Jefferson township, was discovered in the following manner: In 1832, Payne Clark, who had just come into the township, and was engaged in erecting his little cabin, on the Simmons section, was searching in the ravines for a hearth-stone, and saw an out-cropping of the coal, Not knowing what it was, and perceiving that in size and shape it was admirably adapted for the purpose in view, he procured a fine, large slab, and fitted it in the fireplace. A large fire was then built upon it, and the result may easily be imagined. The house, fortunately, was not burned, but Mr. Clark was obliged to hunt another hearth-stone. Twentyfive years later, fortunes were spent in cannel coal oil speculations in this vicinity.

A history of these unfortunate coal oil enterprises has already been given in the history of Bedford township, and it would be superfluous to repeat it here. Jefferson and Bedford were the only two townships in which the oil was manufactured. The extent of the business in Jefferson was considerably greater than in Bedford township, and, as nearly as can be ascertained, was as foflows : on Lyman's place, in the southern part of the Simmon's section, six companies were at work, viz : Lunburg & Co., of New York, whose works consisted of about twenty retorts ; Porter, Fields & Co., an eastern firm, also about twenty retorts; John Dickey, of Pennsylvania; J. E. Holmes & Co., of Newark, Ohio ; Holmes was a contractor, and also had an interest in a number of other works. Mr. Baker, an Eastern man, and the American Company, of Newark, running about thirty retorts. On John Wood's farm was a jcompany, composed of Coshocton county men, called the Home Company, running about ten retorts. On James Moore's farm were two companies : Rambo, Stilwell & Co., of Dres- den, and one from Knox county. On Given's place, was one set of works owned by J. E. Palmer & Co., consisting of about twenty retorts. Palmer was a well-known Methodist preacher, and had as a partner a young New York capitalist.

The village of Warsaw, containing a population of 275, is situated in the eastern part of the township in the Walhonding valley, porth of the river. It was laid out November 13, 1834, by William Carhart, the son-in-law of Colonel Simmons. The original plat embraced thirty-two lots lying on both sides of Main street. March 4, 1840, Rufus Eldredge platted an addition consisting of forty-one lots, facing Church street. This was during the time the Walhonding canal was building. The canal improved the little village considerably. A second addition, consisting principally of the lots on Cherry street, was subsequently made by N. Buckalew. The town was named in honor of the capital of Poland, through sympathy with her earnest though ineffectual struggle for liberty.

The first building on the site of the -Nillage was the residence of William Carhart, the proprietor. It was built several years before the town was laid out, and stood where the town now is. The first ^tore was kept by John Collins, at a place where Foster's store now stands. Soon after Collins started. Major William Long opened a store room. After the canal was built, he also dealt largely in grain, continuing that business up to the time of his death, which occurred about

1850. After his death, grain was handled for a short time by Joseph Crowley and John Williams; the business was then discontinued for many years. In 1879, Nichols & Gamble commenced buying grain and are still so engaged. In years gone by, a foundry was successfully carried on, first by Ephraim De Vinney, afterwards by Thomas Randies, in the building now used by George Thompson as a blacksmith shop.

The most extensive industrial pursuit is car- ' ried on at the grist-mill owned by Beck & Welling. It is a large building, the main part being thirty-six by forty-eight feet, and the warehouse attached to it twenty-four by thirty-six feet. It is five stories high, including basement and loft, and does a flourishing business, having three run of buhrs. The mill was erected in 1849. Its water power is applied by the canal. A thirtyyear lease for the water power expired in 1879, and a lease for twenty years reissued. The building of the mill was begun by William Long, but before its completion he died, and the mill fell into the hands of Nicholas and Porter Rector, who finished it, and added the warehouse. They operated it for a number of years, then sold it to Donnelly, Darling & Co. Robert Darling purchased the interest of his partners, and, with his son, operated it fourteen years under the firm name of R. Darling & Son. In 1879, it was purchased by the present owners.

Just to the right of the road entering Warsaw from Coshocton on Beaver run, stands a saw-mill owned by C. Strome. It was purchased by him in 1841, having been erected many years prior to this date by Colonel Simmons. Previous to 1841, it was a grist and saw-mill combined. There was only one run of stonp, however, grinding nothing but corn and buckwheat. Mr. Strome erected a new building, and put in another set of buhrs, with which to grind wheat. About 1860 he suspended operations in the grinding department, using the building only as a saw-mill since. A carding-mill was also connected with it in its earliest days.

Farther up the street, to the right of the Walhonding bridge, is a large three-story frame building, containing several shops. It was erected about 1873, by Wright & Baliff, as a general repair shop. Darius Wright, in 1875, purchased his partner's share, and now has sole possession. He the second floor, using it as a blacksmith and machine repair shop, It contains a turning lathe and the machinery necessary to do all kinds of repair work. Four workmen are usually employed in the shop. The upper floor contains the wagon manufactory and paint shop of Casimer Fortenbacher. The lower or basement story contains the foundry of Simon Elliott, which he has been running about two years. There are in the village two other blacksmith shops, owned by George Thompson and Philip Rudolph; two wagon shops, Jacob Cline's and John Kepler's ; two shoe shops, John Speckman's and F. Seal's, and Adam Coffman's harness shop. Mrs. Plowman is hostess at the Sherman house.

The mercantile business is represented as follows : Dry goods, Nichols & Gamble, C. Stone and James Foster ; hardware, Caser & Co. ; drugs, Lawson & Son; groceries, Charles Markloy, Jacob Darling, William Markley and Senft Brothers.

Two practicing physicians now reside in Warsaw, Drs. Pren Moore and H. Blackman. David Lawson, who studied with Dr. Russell, of Mount Vernon, commenced practice in 1849, but has since retired, and is now in the drug business here. Among the physicians of a former date were Henry Miller, afterward so distinguished in business circles in Columbus, his brother Jonathan, afterward of Franklin county, and William Stanton.

The village school-house is a large, two-story frame building, erected in 1871, and consisting of three departments, the high-school, secondary and primary. The teachers are J. W. Murphy, '0. Shaw, and A. D. Clark.

The old school building contained but one room. It is still standing, and is used occasionally for religious services. The Disciples have been holding meetings here for several years. Their congregation is as yet small and feeble, recently formed, and consisting mainly of Matthew Stover and wife, Henry Still and wife, William Wilson and wife, and James Wilson and wife. Rev. Hoffman has been filling the pulpit. The Baptists occasionally hold services here also.

But one church edifice now graces the village, that of the Methodist Episcopal society, which was organized in 1843, by Rev. Mr. Thatcher; the presiding elder at the time being the Rev. Mr. Yocum. For five or six years meetings were held in the old school-house, still standing on the hill. The first members were Langdon Hogle, Andrew Weatherwax and wife, Joseph Meggs and wife, John Hook and wife, William Pancake and wife. The church was built about five years after the society was organized; a frame building worth something over $1,000. Rev. Mr. Thatcher was followed by Rev. Finley Leonard, during whose ministry a great revival occurred, the result being an addition of some forty to the church. The number of communicants at this time is about fifty, and the church is in a prosperous condition.

Mohawk village, lying in the little valley of Mohawk run, frorn which it received its name, in the southwestern part of the township, was laid out in 1859, by William and James Thompson. Its existence is due to the coal oil excitement which led to the occupancy of this part of the township. The cannel coal fields surrounded it on three sides and the demand for dwelling hoiises for the laborers employed in the works and for a trading center resulted in the establishment of the little village. For about eighteen months, until the coal oil bubble burst, it enjoyed a mushroom kind of growth ; since then if has barely held its own. No houses were erected since 1860, until within a year or two. It now contains about seventy-five souls.

The first house was built by William McParland as a dwelling house and store-room combined. The store-room is still occupied as such by D. E. Almack. Mr. McFarland was a cousin to the Moores, came from Virginia and afterward returned there. A. Mr. Hodkins inaugurated mercantile business here. He kept a very limited stock of groceries and coal oil for a very limited space of time, and was followed by Zack Bush whose stock in trade consisted of groceries and liquors. Subsequently Newton Stilwell opened a " regular " store, keeping a full line of dry goods, clothing, boots, groceries, etc. He was from Dresden and removed from Mohawk village to Missouri. The present business of the village is as follows: D. E. Almack, dry goods; K. H. McFadden, dry goods; Will Wheeler, harness shop; Mahlon Scliooley, shoe shop; J. H. Johnson, blacksmith and carriage shop.

The school-house is a creditable t'vyo-story building, in which two schools are usually kept. Only one has been in progress during the last year, however, owing to an unusually small enumeration.

Mary McClure has charge of the mail. Previous to the platting of the village, James Moore kept a postoffice a number of years, about a mile north of it.

Mohawk Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, located here, was organized in February, 1869, for the purpose of counteracting the influence of, and suppressing, if possible, a saloon which had recently flung its sign to the breeze. The mission of the lodge was speedily crowned with success. William Barnes, of New Bedford Lodge, and Deputy of the Grand Lodge, organized it. Among its twelve charter members were Henry Metham, Robert Moore, Thomas Sohooley, W illiam Dearness, R. H. McFadden, James Moore, Sr., James Moore, Jr., D. E. Almack and Robert Given. During its brief career, it has initiated about 300 members, a large number of whom have removed to other places. The society is in a healthy condition at present, contains 100 members, and is officered as follows : J. Q. Moore, worthy chief templar; Charlotte Metham, worthy vice templar; Grant Wheeler, secretary, and Mary Graham, treasurer. The village is noted for its sobriety and morality. Several times have salopns been opened here, but they have been as often closed, in a very short time. Not only is the popular sentiment opposed to the sale of liquor, but legal recourse may be had at any time. Within each orginal deed for the town lots was inserted a clause prohibitory of the sale of intoxicating drinks, under the penalty of forfeiture of property. The validity of that clause has been tested in the courts and sustained.

Mohawk village is scarcely known by that name. It is universally called Jericho. The story goes that a noted Irish character living in this vicinity became greatly displeased at the manner in which the school was conducted, and, meeting one of the Scotch school directors one day, berated him soundly about it. The wrath of the Scotchman, under the personal abuse heaped upon him, gradually rose to the point of ebullition, when it could contain itself no longer, and was vented upon the wordy offender, whO' presented a sorry spectacle for day^ afterward. The Irishman wrote an account of his wrongs, and had it read in a paper before the local literary society. In it he described how, in going down from Jerusalem into Jericho, he fell among thieves and robbers. So pleased were the auditors with the production that this village was forthwith dubbed Jericho, and the name has clung to it ever since.

From 1845 to 1850, or thereabouts, a country postoffice existed in the southeastern part of the township, under the name of Rural Vale. The postmasters were John Elder, John Taylor, Mr. Lindersmith and John Williams, successively.

The Mohawk village church, located about a mile east of the village, was organized in the fall of 1840, at the Whittaker school-house, by Rev. Harvey D. Camp. In the preceding year a company from Ireland had settled in the Mohawk valley, until that time a comparative wilderness. They were followed the next year by other families of the same connection. The first company embraced James Moore, deceased (father of Robert Moore), James Moore, Jr., John Moore and William Moore. Those coming the next year, were William and James Given, William and James Thompson, and William Moore. And these families, with Thomas Tredaway and wife, composed the society at its organization. In 1841, there was an addition to the settlement, including, besides others, John Moore and family, and the well-known James and Robert of the day. For about a year from the organization, the meetings were held in the Whittaker schoolhouse ; then a school-house was built in the settlement and meetings held in that. In 1849, the church was built - worth some $1,500. Within a few years it has been repaired, and very much improved as to its interior. It stands near a refreshing spring of water, and is convenient and attractive in all its appointments and arrangements. The minister first in charge was Rev.

Mr. Camp. Eev. Leonard Parker succeeded him, and Eev. Henry Whittemore succeeded Parker. Under his ministry, quite a noticeable number were added to the society. Eev. Homer J. Clark followed Whittemore. Then came Austin Coleman, during whose ministry the church building was erected. Just prior to building the Methodist Episcopal church, he held a protracted meet- 'ing in the Baptist church, which had been built the year before. During this revival there was a great many valuable accessions. The history of the society has been marked by great prosperity. The number of members at this time is about 120. Eev. Philip Kelser is the pastor in charge.

A Sunday-school with a membership of 125, superintended by the pastor, assisted by Miss Effie Moore, and supplied with a fine library, has been successfully maintained for several years, summer and winter, having previously been held only during the summer. t

Jefferson Presbyterian church is situated about a mile south of the village of Warsaw. Among those chiefly interested in the organization of the church were the Elder family, and the building was located on a site given for the purpose on the farm of John Elder. The church was organized August 19, 1837, by Eev. Nathaniel Conklin. A colony was sent out for the purpose from the West Carlisle church, with which it has nearly always been associated in making a pastoral charge. The early meetings were held in a school-house for a few years, then the congregation erected the commodious frame now in service. The principal ministerial labor has been rendered by Eevs. Matthews, Bomberger, John Moore and Fox. Eev. W. D. Wallace is the present pastor. The church, which had, at the outset, twenty-four members, has now about seventy-five.

Darling's run Eegular Baptist church was organized in 1866, with ten members. They advanced for some years, but have now come to a stand-still condition, with a membership of a little over twenty. They have no house of worship, using a school-house for that purpose. They have had as pastors. Elder W. S. Barnes and Eev. H. Clark. They have no pastor at present.

Jefferson Eegular Baptist church was organized May, 1840, by Elder B. White, with six members. It grew rapidly, and, in 1846, its membership was nearly 100, and in 1850, ^130. Subsequently it began to decrease in numbers, caused mostly by removals west and elsewhere. Not more than ten years elapsed until it was but a weak church. Since 1860, it has not been able to sustain preaching, and, in fact, is no longer to be properly called a church. The ministers that have labored for this church are as follows: B. White, William Mears, L. Gilbert, J.M. Winn,E. E. Whitaker, S. W. Frederick, A. W. Odor, under missionary employ, and A. W. Arnold. The old frame house of worship is almost a wreck.

The Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Eeform church (German) is situated in the northeastern portion of Jefferson township. It was organized in 1844, by Eev. Frederick Minner. Preaching had previously been held at the house of Christian Gamersfelter, of Clark township, and later in Peter Strome's house, in this township, as the greater number of the attendants settled in this vicinity. Other Germans came in, and in the above mentioned year a society was formed and a weather-boarded log meeting-house, which is still used, was built, by the personal labor of the. members. Christian Shoemaker, Jacob Frederick, Abram Van Kennel and Christian Gamersfelter were the most active members at the time of the erection. The pastors in charge of this fiock since Eev. Minner, have been Eevs. Lewis Dhume, Holm Gosche Holm, Frederick Hunche, John Bery and John Horn. At the termination of the pastorate of the last named minister services were discontinued for a while, but Eev. Bery has since been recalled, and is now serving this and two other congregations. The.membership is very small.

The Tabor Evangelical church - better known as the Albright - was organized about 1850. Its organization was due chiefly to a dissention in the Lutheran church, which caused a number of its members to withdraw, and subsequently to organize this body. Chief among the little band of organizers were John Frederick, Earnest Myer, Joseph Speak, Casper Mingel, Henry Correl and Jacob Heckelberger, Its first minister

-was Rev. Monk. A log rneeting-house, in the extreme northeastern part of the township, was «oon built, and was used until the society disbanded, in 1868. This dissolution was due to the building of the Hopewell Evangelical church, in Clark township, as a considerable number of the Tabor congregation, who resided in Clark town- .ship, severed their connection with Tabor church and united with the Hopewell church, on account of its proximity to their homes.

The Bethel Evangelical church grew out of the Tabor church, might, in fact, be regarded as a -continuation of it. About a year after services were suspended in the old Tabor church, those of the members who resided in this township erected another building, about a mile and a half southwest from the old structure. Jacob Gam- Christian Kaser, Joseph Speck, William King, Christian Strome, Peter Haas and John Frederick were its main members at this time. Now the membership is nearly fifty. The pastors in charge of the circuit to which this congregation belongs, are Revs. John Smith and Frank Tohero. A flourishing Sabbath-school exists, with about seventy members. Jacob Gam- has been superintendent for many years