Keene Township

Keene Township

KEENE township is bounded on the north by Mill Creek township, on the east by White lEyes, on the south by Tuscarawas and Jackson, and on the, west by Bethlehem township. It was -organized as a separate township in 1824, previous to that time having been a part of Mill -Creek. The Walhonding river passes through the southwestern corner, cutting off about a hundred acres from the main portion of the township. Mill creek is the principal stream. It passes through the township from north to south, -entering the Walhonding river a short distance Ibelow, in Tuscarawas township. Several streamlets run through the township, one of them being designated Little Mill creek. Springs of a strongflow and an excellent quality of water are abundantly scattered throughout the township, furnishing water at nearly every farm house. The surface may be described as rough and rolling, becoming in some places hilly. In the southwestern corner, along the Walhonding, are a few hundred acres of rich, loamy bottom land. Except this the soil is generally a yellow clay, with a little sand, and produces good crops. It seems specially adapted to pasturage, as it produces blue grass in rich abundance. Oak, chestnut, walnut, beech, sugar, hickory and white ash are the principal varieties of timber; they covered the entire surface of the township before it was cleared by the woodman's ax.

Three-fourths of the township is military land, the first section, or the northeastern quarter of the township, being congress land. The second section, or northwestern quarter, was surveyed by the government into lots of one hundred acres each, which were entered severally from time to time, as they were demanded. The third section of the township, its southwestern quarter, belonged originally to Robert Underwood, his patent for the land being from the President of the United States, beine dated March 29, 1800. Mr. Underwood was a government official in the treasury department at Washington, and never resided in Coshocton county. His section was located for him by J. Matthews. For his services in locating this section and several other sections, Matthews received from Mr. Underwood a five hundred acre tract of land in the southeastern part of this section. This tract was shortly after conveyed by Matthews to Ebenezer Buckingham, and by Buckingham to Benjamin Burrell, who settled upon it. Underwood had his section surveyed into lots of about one hundred acres each, which he sold gradually to settlers coming in, until all were disposed of. The fourth section, or the southeastern quarter of the township, was granted May 16, 1800, by President Adams to James Hamilton, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He, too, was a non-resident of the county, and sold the land by parcejs to settlers.

ally in the broad valleys of the larger streams, and in Keene township the only valley of this kind is that of the Walhonding which merely touches the southwestern corner. Here, however, is found a' stone mound situated on the f^rm of K. D. Miller several hundred yards from his house on the point of a hill that overlooks the valley. A large portion of the stone forming it has been hauled away. Before it was disturbed, it was about twelve feet in diameter, three in hight, and regular in slope. The stones were of various sizes, nicely fitted together like mason work. It has never been explored. About a mile southeast of this, just west of the residence of Saul Miller, on a nearly level ridge of land is a flat circular elevation, several feet high, covering about an acre. Mr. Miller, plowing at one side of this elevation several years ago, struck the plow against a layer of stone, some little distance below the surface, which seemed to be a pavement leading to a spring situated just below. Across the road from his house upon the top of a fiat sand hill are a number of excavations in the sandy soil perhaps ten feet deep. When or why they were made it is difficult even to conjecture.

The Underwood section was the first part of the township to be settled. One of the first attempts at mill building in Coshocton county was made in this section, on Mill creek. It was about the year 1801 that Ebenezer Buchingham, of Zanesville, had a dam for a saw-mill constructed on his land in this section, within 200 yards of where M. McCarty now lives ; but it was swept away the same fall during high waters, and the project in consequence abandoned. According to another account, the work of building the dam was done by George Colver and another man, and before it was completed one of the men died from the effects of a rattlesnake bitfe. This caused the other to relinquish work and return to Zanesville. Benjamin Burrell, a few years later, about 1807, settled here. He was from Frederick county, Maryland, and- died soon after the war of 1812.

county, Virginia, to this county. His father had served seven years in the revolutionary war as a< sharp-shooter, under General Morgan. Nicholas, lived two years with his uncle, Michael Miller, in Franklin township ; then, in 1806, took up a residence in Keene township, which was continued till his death. When he came into the township> his entire fortune consisted of $36 in money and two axes. He first bought seventy-two acres from Mr. Underwood, paying for it in part by assisting in the survey of the section. Large additions of real estate were subsequently made W this. Several years after he settled here he married Mary Darling, who, at the age of eighteen, in 1806, drove a four-horse team through from Virginia. Her brothers, William and Jonathan, were among the first settlers of Jefferson township.

During the winter preceding Mr. Miller's arrival in Keene township, he was engaged iiu deadening the trees on the little tract he had bought, and instead of returning to his home in Franklin township, every evening, he made a ^ cave-like excavation under a jutting rock, which served frequently as a sleeping place. He had retired here, one stormy evening, when he observed a bear approaching him. The sight, at first, frightened him, for he had no weapon at hand ; but he raised a hideous yell, and the bear scampered away, Once, when bear hunting, he had shot and wounded his game, but not mortally, and he was in great personal danger. His trusty dog advanced upon the bear and attacked it. Bruin turned his attention from Miller to the dog, embracing the latler in a death-hke hug> Miller, in the meantime, quickly loaded his gun, with powder and ball thrown in loosely, ran up to the bear and shot it dead in its tracks. The dog arose, walked a few steps, then fell dead.

Musters, were held in Coshocton as soon as men enough to form a company could be collected. While Miller was attending one there^ an Indian attempted to steal his horse. Miller detected him in the act, and attacking him in true pioneer style, gave him a drubbing. The Indian threatened revenge after he recovered, but Miller was never disturbed by hiip.

Murray, Van Emery, Jackson Baker, William Win ton, Samuel Thompson and James McCullook came about the same time. They were either renters or squatters, and were only transient in their stay here. Several years later, Elizabeth and George Emery, mother and son, settled in the extreme southwestern corner of the township.

James Oglesby, now the oldest resident of Keene township, became a settler in 1810. He was from Virginia, and came through to Coshocton by team. He first leased a place from Isaac Evans, adjoining his present home, and afterward acquired considerable property in his own name. He served twice in the war of 1812, first about forty days in the- vicinity of Mansfield, afterward a term of six months at upper Sandusky.

Pour or five years later, George Titus emigrated from Virginia, and located on lot 22. He was a blacksmith, the first to pursue that trade in Keene township. Cuthbert Milligan and his wife about 1815, crossed the mountains from Hardy county, Virginia, with a single horse; each of them would alternately ride and walk. Mr. Milligan leased the Worman farm for a number of years, then purchased a portion of lot 22. James Mulford came about the same time.

In 1816, George Bible, another Virginian, entered the township and settled on the Underwood section. He was a famous hunter and devoted most of his time to this his favorite occupation. For a number of years, from 100 to 150 deer, besides other game, were annually brought down by his rifle.

The year 1817 brought Charles Dusthimer to this section from the vicinity of Newcomerstown, to which place he had emigrated eight years before from Virginia. James O'Donnell came with him. Henry Preston purchased and" settled upon lots 6 and 7; he subsequently sold them to John Kay, who came in 1817. Isaac Siphers came the same year. Shortly after the war of 1812, James Pew, who had been a soldier under General Harrison, settled on lot 11, where his widow still lives.

John Williams and William Livingston were among the earliest settlers of the Hamilton section. Livingston served for a number of years as justice of the peace.

to be settled about 1816. James Carson waaamong the earliest persons here. He located the northwest quarter of section 2. William Elliott and Andrew Neal followed soon after, the latter settling on the northeast quarter of section 8. Henry Barnes, about this time, owned the northeast quarter of section 9. John Daugherty and John Crowle.y were also early settlers. George- Shoemaker came from Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1821. Jacob Bible, a brother to George- Bible, accompanied him. He is still living just, across the line in Bethlehem township. From 1817 to about 1822, settlers rapidly filled up unoccupied sections, and at this latter date this, quarter of the township was probably entirely settled.

The northwestern portion of Keene township was settled principally by New Englanders,. most of whom were from Cheshire county. New Hampshire. Among the earliest and best known were Timothy Emerson, - Jacob Emerson, hiscousin, Jesse Beals, Adam Johnson, Kobert Farwell, Zopher Farwell, Dr. Benjamin Hills, Calvin Adams, John Burton, Henry Jewett, Samuel Stone, Jonas Child and Chauncy Litchfield.

Timothy Emerson came in 1818, from Ashley^ Massachusetts, and settled on lot 12. The first Sunday-school in Keene township owed its existence to his efforts. He died in Keene township in 1878 at the ripe age of ninety-six, just ashe was about to remove to Granville, where twochildren resided. The Farwells came in 1825,. from Cheshire county. New Hampshire. Robert Farwell was instrumental in introducing the first, fine sheep into Keene township. Adam Johnson came in 1819, also from Cheshire county, New Hampshire. He was a well educated man, for several years a justice of the peace in this township, and withal a very active and prominent citizen. Dr. Benjaman Hills settled in practice here at the instance of his friend Adam Johnson, about 1820 or 1821, emigrating from the same place. He was the first physician in Keen© township and one of the first in Coshocton county. For a while it is said he and Dr. Lee of Coshocton were the only two practitioners in the county. Although very young at the time, he had been in the revolutionary war in its last year as an assistant to an army surgeon. He was quite eccentric, it appears; rough in speech but kind of heart and especiallj'- tender toward the brute creation, horses, dogs, cats, etc. It is said that for a long time he fed daily a rattlesnake that had taken up its abode under his barn. In medicine he was a great admirer of the works of Dr. Rush Philadelphia. His medical hobby was that all -diseases were produced by miasmatic influence- His wife died in 1834, he returned to New England and died shortly after. Dr. Lewis Colby irom Vermont, a well educated physician, located .at Keene about 1828. His stay here was brief. A few years later he removed to Louisiana and there soon after.

Bartholomew Thayer, a revolutionary soldier, settled on lot 2 of .the southwestern section. He in 1826, at the age of seventy years, and was Tauried on his farm. Courage and credulity were two elements of his character, as the following incident will testify: While Adam Johnson was surveying the tovsTi of Keene, a rattlesnake was seen by one of the men and killed. Thayer, who was present, was afflicted with an ailment of some kind, and had heard that the heart of a rattlesnake was a sure cure. Eager to test the efficacy the remedy, he at once cut out the heart of the viper, and at a single gulp swallowed it.

The earliest township records preserved are for the year 1828. They show that during that year the officers were as follows: Timothy Emerson, John Rader and George Ford, trustees ; John Daugherty and James Pew, fence viewers ; Henry Barnes, clerk; E. Thayer, justice of the peace ; Jacob Emerson, constable.

The first mill permanently erected was built "by Nicholas Miller, in 1816, on what is now the farm of his son, Saul Miller. About ten years later a grist mill was added. The two were sold to John Burton soon after, and while in his posrsession were destroyed by fire, in 1836. About 1818 Jacob Emerson built a mill on lot 14 of the northwest quarter. He subsequently sold it to the Farwells. It suspended operations permanently in 1859. On lot 3 of the southwest Ephraim Thayer, about 1825, built a sawmill and grist-mill combined. Several years later a carding and fulling machine was attached to the mill. This was the first carding-mill in this section of country, and for a number of years it did an extensive business. It went down about 1840. Rev. Adams, of later years, had a little, open, frame saw-mill, on lot 19 of the northwest quarter, where he also ground a little corn and buckwheat. John Andrews also ran a little corn-cracker several years on a little creek in the northeastern part of the township.

The only distillery operated in Keene township was a little copper affair- owned by Isaac Siphers, situated on lot 7., in the southwest quarter of the township, built about 1820, and kept up about fifteen years.

Long before the schools were maintained by public taxation, the demand for education among the pioneers of this township, as well as elsewhere, was sufficiently strong to keep schools in operation regularly for a few months every year. The earliest schools were taught in school-cabins built by the settlers, or in deserted huts, here and there, wherever they could be found. One of the earliest school-houses erected, stood on lot 18 of the southwest quarter of the township. It was built about 1818 or 1820, by the people of this vicinity, who " turned out " with their teams and their axes and soon constructed it and its rude furniture. It was a little log cabin, just high enough to permit a man to stand upright in it, with a fire-place, ten feet wide, occupying one end; for windows it had sheets of oiled paper placed over holes cut in the wall for this purpose. The seats were simply flat rails put on legs, the floor was puncheon and the roof made of clap boards. The first school in this building was taught by James Wilson, a gray haired man of about sixty winters. He was a Virginian, and came to Ohio, he said, to visit friends in Knox county, but, depleted in purse, he chanced to pass through this neighborhood just as the people were looking for a teacher. He was hired forthwith to teach tlie winter school of two months. The branches taught were reading, writing and spelling. Of the mysteries of arithmetic the old man was as ignorant as his pupils. He kept what was termed a "loud school," conducted on the fundamental principal that the greater the noise, the greater the amount of " larnin." An imperative rule was that all the scholars should study aloud, the louder the better. Among his pupils were a number of strapping young backwoodsmen, and it is needless to say that until the novelty of the thing wore off their vocal powers were exercised to their utmost capacity. To say that the din produced was deafening, would be to say that the falls of Niagara were "pretty good." Some of the young people who attended this school, were Ben. Norman, Isaac Oglesby, John Minton, Isaac Good, John Mulford, George Mulford, Diana Mulford, Robert Miller, George Moore and Garrett Moore. The location of the school proved to be too far north to be central for those who supported it, and consequently it was not kept up very long. Schools were afterward taught in abandoned cabins farther to the south. One of these was on lot 17 of the southwest quarter, taught by Amos Bonum, a cripple. The Millers, Oglesbys, Bakers, Emerys and others, attended school here. Afterward a school house was built in the northeastern corner of lot 14, same section, where V. Schwartz now lives.

Another early subscription school was situated on lot 7 of the same quarter. John Kay, Charlie McKee, Henry Barnes, William Kay, William Norman, Tipton Thompson and John Fulks were among the teachers here. The school in Keene village was established in 1820. Farther east, before the year 1820, Robert Boyd taught schools in old cabins a number of years.

In primitive pioneer times the market price of wheat was twenty-five cents a bushel ; coffee cost fifty cents a pound, and calico forty to fifty cents a yard. The " corn crackers '' in use would not grind wheat to a desirable degree of fineness, and, to separate the coarser grits, perforated deer-skin often answered the purpose of sieves. Buckskin pants were the prevailing fashion with the men, and coats were seldom if ever worn, even to church. Miss Shoemaker, an old maiden lady, residing a mile or so northeast of the village of Keene, remembers vividly the " open air " meeting held by the Presbyterians in early days, the preacher, standing beneath the umbrageous oak, vigorously expounding his fourthlies and fifthlies to his hearers, while children of all sizes and ages were creeping over the ground and dividing with the preacher the attention of their parents. Once an irreverent wag, during the night before communion services were to be held in this grove, peeled the bark from one of the trees, which would be conspicuous the next day, and painted in large letters on the white surface thus exposed the words, "beer and cakes," or some similar motto. The indignation of the members was stronglj' aroused against the perpetrator of this reflection upon their religious services, and he would have suffered had his identity been discovered.

Methodist itinerant preachers came to Keene frequently, before a class was organized there, and discoursed in divers places, just as circumstances would permit. One place for holding meetings was a little deserted cabin, floorless and dreary, situated about a mile south of the village. It was an invariable habit among the back-woodsmen to bring their dogs with them in attending church here. The snarling and fighting of the dogs in church was a cause of great annoyance to the preacher. The manifestation of an unusual amount of canine depravity one day was too much for the patience of Rev. Graham, who was then filling the pulpit, and he proceeded to administer a rebuke. After admonishing his hearers to remember where he had stopped preaching, that they might not lose the thread of his discourse, he demanded of his congregation reasons why they persisted in permitting their dogs to accompany them to service. He inquired whether it was through fear of wild animals; if so, they should bring their guns with them. Was it through fear of the devil ? Then let them get down on their knees in their cabins and pray to their God to drive him away. The rebuke, it is understood, produced the desired effect.

The village of Keene is very pleasantly located a little northwest of the center of the township. It stands on the crest of a range of low hills and commands a view for miles around of a beautifully rolling country. It was laid out in 1820, by Jesse Reals, the original plat containing sixteen lots. An addition was made in 1839, by Charles and Robert Farwell. As originally platted, the village was wholly within lot 1 of the northwest section. This part is now the southeastern por- tion of town. Elisha Elliott was the first resident owner of lot 1, but, previous to the survey of the town, lie had sold it to John Burton and Jesse Beals, the eastern half to the former and the western part, which is the site of the village, to the latter. Beals emigrated from near Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, as did a number of the other settlers in this vicinity, and named the village in honor of his old home. The township name has, of course, the same origin.

At the time the village was platted, no building stood within its limits, the entire groimd , still covered with its primal dress of forest trees and thickets. There was, however, at this time, on lot number 2, on land which afterwards became a part of Keene, a hewed-log cabin, erected, a year or two before, by Alexander Barnes. The first building within Keene proper was a school-house, described as "a little leaky log cabin." Adam Johnson probably taught the first school here, during the winter of 1821. He was succeeded by James McMath, of Harrison county. A little later Daphne Johnson, daughter of Adam Johnson, was the village school mistress. She died a few years after, of consumption. Dr. Benjamin Hills erected the first dwelling-house. The next building was a shop for the manufacture of windmills, built by Chauncey Litchfield.

Henry Ramsey was the first individual to sell goods at Keene. He -offered his little stock of merchandise to the public about 1827. Previous to that date, for some years, he had followed the occupation of peddling goods, from door to door, in this vicinity. He was an Irishman, by birth, and emigrated from Liverpool; a cabinetmaker, by trade, and was considered a queer, half-witted character. Alexander Renfrew for many years, in early times, kept a flourishing store here. Charles Farwell kept the first tavern.

Keene once aspired to become the county seat. While Coshocton county still included a large portion of what is now Holmes county, the village of Coshocton was inconsiderable in size, and far from the center of the county. Keene claimed the advantage of a more central locality, and was urging its claims pretty strongly, when the formation of Holmes county, in 1824, put an end to the hopes of Keene in this direction. Prominent men at Coshocton, it is said, through fear of losing the county seat, were influential in having the new county struck off.

The only postoffice in the township is at Keene. It was first kept by Chauncey Litchfield about a mile south of the village, but, after this grew into a little trading town, it was removed' to this place, and Robert Farwell appointed' postmaster. D. G. Whittemore fills this position ' at present.

The village was settled to a great extent by New Englanders, and, in keeping with their advanced views of education, an academy was established here about 1845. A stock company, consisting of ten or twelve of its substantial citizens, was organized, a lot purchased, and a comfortable building erected. The school was conducted first by Rev. George B. Sturges, an Episcopalian minister, afterward by Francis Benton and one or t*o others. For several years it enjoyed a vigorous growth and exerted a wide-spread influence, having in attendance at one time more than 100 students from a distance. Then it began gradually to decline, and in a few years more was merged into the public schools.

A Baptist church was located here years ago, but is no longer in existence. It was organized about 1842, at the residence of Absolom Farwell, by Rev. Gorham as officiating clergyman, and D. B. Whittemore, F. S. Bryant, Absolom Farwell, Zopher Farwell and Charles Farwell as members. A large frame meeting-house, with steeple attachment, was built shortly after its organization. It became defunct about 1862, from internal dissensions and loss in membership. The building stood until 1871, when an incendiary reduced it to ashes. The ministers who labored with this church were J. M. Winn, B. White, M. J. Barnes and T. Evans.

Keene has now a population of about 275. Its present business may be summarized as follows: Two stores, owned by Smith & Parkhill and Daniel Whittemore, two, hotels, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one harness shop. Two physicians reside and practice here, Drs. William Shank and Joseph F. Snider. Two fine church buildings adorn the place, the Presbyterian and the Methodist Episcopal.

Newport, a dead citj- of the past, came into existence in 1830, in which year it was laid out by Solomon Vail, close to the southern line of th§ township, on a little tract of land now owned by Saiah Wolfe. The Ohio canal had just been built, and the design was to found an emporium of trade on this commercial highway. Its beginning was auspicious. Two warehouses, opened by Robert Mitchell and Butler Luce, speedily built up a large trade. Two stores and a tavern were started, and the ring of the anvil was heard in the land ; but the hopes of the village were destined to be disappointed. A formidable rival. Canal Lewisville, came into existence about a half mile to the east, and soon overtopped, then swallowed up, its little neighbor. Part of the plat of Canal Lewisville lies in Keene township, but .all its buildidgs are in Tuscarawas township.

There are now four churches in active operation in Keene township, two of which are in Keene village - the United Presbyterian and the 'German Baptist. Of these the United Presbyterian - Amity church - is the oldest. It is located in the northeastern part of the township, and is of the Associate Reform congregation -of Mill creek, and the Associate congregation of Keene, which, before the consolidation occupied substantially the same territory. Robert Boyd was the first member of the Associate Reform who settled in Keene township. He came May 4, 1817, and was soon followed by oth- -ers. Mr. Boyd was an educated man, and came when a young man from Ireland. The first preaching was in the summer of 1818, by Rev. ' -George Buchanan, of Steuben ville ; he preached occasionally afterward. Robert Boyd and George Ford, formerly elders in his congregation at "Steubenville, acted as a session here. After 1822, Revs. David Proudfit, David Norwood and Moses Kerr supplied the pulpit occasionally.

The first communion was held in the fall of 1828, by Rev. Samuel Pindley, D. D. The members at that time were Robert Boyd and wife, Ford and wife, John Williams and wife, Thomas Hamilton and wife, Joseph Marshall and wife, Robert Boyd, Jr., and wife, Mrs. Nancy Foster, Mrs. Sarah Ford, and others. Rev. D. F. Reid settled as first pastor in 1841, in connection with

Millersburg and White Eyes, and labored with a good degree of success about sixteen years. A brick church was erected in 1834; the present frame church in 1856.

The Associate congregation of Keene was organized August 26, 1838. Robert Boyd and Robert Karr were ordained elders. Rev. Samuel Irvine officiating. Members: Robert Boyd and Elizabeth, his wife ; Robert Karr and wife, Wilham Boyd, John Karr and wife, Sarah Boyd, John Boyd, John ElUott and Martha, his wife; Robert Tidrick and wife, John Wilhamson and wife, James Johnson, Samuel Boyd and Nancy, his wife ; and John Loder. Revs. S. Irvine, Joseph MoKee, Samuel H. McCleans, and others, supplied occasionally. In April, 1845, Rev. James M. Henderson was settled as pastor onefourth of his time, in connection with Northfield and Claysville. He labored thus one year and nine months, with a good degree of success, when he was released from this part of his .charge. He was a strong advocate of temperance and an opponent of slavery. In November, 1854, Rev. John P. Scott was settled one-third of his time, in connection with Millersburg, and labored here one year and nine months.

These two churches formerly went into the United Presbyterian church, September 4, 1858. Rev. William A. McConnell was settled as pastor of the congregations of Mill Creek, White Eyes, and Keene, July 1, 1859. Pursuant to a notice given on the last' Sabbath in April, the congregations of Mill Creek and Keene voted unanimously to consolidate into one congregation and session, under the name of Amity. This action was ratified by the Presbytery, October 15, 1861. Mr. McConnell labored with ability and success until some difficulties arose. He resigned his charge at the meeting of Presbytery, June, 1864, on the ground that he had not got the encouragement and support to harmonize the charge he was led to expect. He left on the 13th of September, 1864. At that time Amity had 130 members. The present pastor is William Wishart ; _the membership, forty.

The German Baptist church, known more generally as the Dunkard church, has a nicely finished frame building on lot No. 25, in the southwestern part of the township. It was built in 1878, and dedicated on the 7th of July, of the same year. Its cost was about $1,000. This is the first church edifice of this denomination erected in the coun- - ty, although the society is one of the oldest. This is due to the fact that the members have been few in number and widely scattered. Preaching has been held in various parts of the county, for a long time in Franklin township, at the residence of Philip Hershman. The church was organized there about 1880, by Eev. Schofield. The principal early members were Philip Hershman, John Hershman, Nicholas Miller, Samuel Belhart and George Wilcox. Lewis Eodruck was pastor many years. He was succeeded by Kevs. Eli Stell, Philip Axline, John Nicholson and Samuel Mantis. The present membership is about forty.

The First Presbyterian church of Keene was incorporated February 25, 1835, with the following membership : Timothy Emerson, John Elliott, Robert Farwell, Calvin Adams, John Shannon and Jacob Emerson. Previously, these members belonged to the " congregation of Coshocton and Mill creek," which had been organized many years before. Services were once held alternately at Coshocton and Keene ; when at Keene, during pleasant weather, under the trees of the forest, on the site of the present church; at other times, in cabins or the school-house. About 1833, when the Keene members were strong enough to form a separate church, they left the old organization and founded the Keene church. Their first building, a large frame structure, was erected in 1834, by Charles Farwell. The present church was built in 1878-79, and dedicated May, 1879. It is pleasantly located on a knoll of gently rising ground, is a substantial, commodious, frame edifice, with slate roof and a spire, and was erected at a cost of $2,600. Rev. George Warner was the minister in charge when the division ocurred in 1833. Eev. N. Conklin was stated supply for two years ending June, 1836. Eev. J. S. Wyhe followed Mr. Conklin and served three years. Both Mr. Conklin and Mr. Wylie also served, at the same time, the Coshocton church, and these churches have frequently been associated in ministerial charge. Eev. B. J. Lowe followed Mr. Wylie, remaining as stated supply two years. From 1841 until 1843, the church was supplied by the presbytery. Eev. John D Whitham was installed pastor July 7, 1843. In 1844 a division ocurred and a new school church was organized. After a little time, this was reorganized as a "True Presbyterian" church, which, after a feeble life, protracted through adozen years, became extinct. Of the old church Eev. J. W. Knott became pastor June 28, 1845, remaining in charge until October, 1847. Rev. Samuel Hanna became pastor November 11, 1848, and continued his labors here until his death, in 1850. Eevs. John Trubit, Wilham Edgar and 0. C. Bomberger supplied the church from 1850 until July, 1856. At that time Eev. William E. Hunt took charge, remaining about one year. Eev. E. W. Marquis was installed November 14, 1857, and continued as pastor until his death, in May, 1875. Eev. Augustus Cone, who succeeded him, remained two years. The present pastor is Eev. W. D. Wallace, who also has charge of the Sabbath-school connected with the church. The number of communicants is about 120.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Keene was organized, as nearly as can be ascertained, about 1830. Of the original members were Robert Boyd, Daniel Boyd, John Boyd, Samuel Elliott, George Elliott and Thomas Elliott. Prior to the organization of the church preaching was frequently held in cabins and school-houses in and about Keene. A frame house of worship was erected soon after the church was organized. It stood just south of the present church, a large frame building, erected in 1860, at a cost of about $2,000. Both churches were built by John Elliott of Coshocton. The membership at present numbers about sixty. Rev. E. H. Dissette has charge of the circuit to which this church belongs. It includes the churches at Louisville, Warsaw, Spring Mountain and Elliott's chapel, besides the Keene church. The Sunday-school connected with the church is superintended by William Bechtel and has a membership of about sixty.

pated in its organization were George Beaver, Henry Eeamer, Solomon Best, Christopher Keesy , James Murphy, William P. Murphy and Thomas Smith. A frame building was erected soon after. During the late rebellion, the discussion of war issues in the pulpit produced disruption and ultimately the extinction of the society. Later a Christian Union church was organized at the same place by Kevs. Pigman and George Stevenson. The organizing members of this church were principally those who had belonged to the United Brethren church. Its career was also breit, perishing four or five years after its organization. George Stevenson and William P. Murphy were the principal ministers who had charge of this church.