Licking Township

Licking Township

THE Mound Builders' works are found in various parts of Licking township, the stone mound about a mile south of Jacksontown being of the greatest magnitude. It was of gigantic proportions, measuring one hundred and eightythree feet in diameter at its base, and when found by the pioneer settlers, was between thirty and forty feet in height. Many hundred wagon loads of stone were removed from it, and used in the construction of the reservoir, in the cellar walls in the neighborhood, and in the villages along the National road, so that at present it will not probably average more than eight feet in height A tolerably well preserved coffin, containing a skeleton, was found in it some years ago, with a quantity of beads and other trinkets. Other but less authenticated relics are often named in connection with this mound. The "decalogue stone" with some others require verification. This mound is situated on high ground, and was built of unhammered stone of tolerably uniform size and very large. Hon. Isaac Smucker, who is well informed on the subject, says it was the largest stone mound of which he has any knowledge. It

The earth mound on the plank road between Newark and Jacksontown, on the farm of Mr. Taylor, is one of good size, and much interest attaches to it on account of the very careful and scientific examination given it, a few years ago, by Professor Marsh, of Yale college, and who gave it a very extensive notoriety through "Silliman's Journal," as well as in a carefully prepared pamphlet publication. He found in it ashes, charcoal, flint, a broken pipe made of soft limestone, pieces of a tube of the same material, a string of over one hundred native copper beads, strung on a twisted cord of coarse vegetable fibre; also shell beads, human skeletons, decayed layers of reddish brown powder, layers of burned clay, white chaff, implements of various kinds, lance and arrowheads, six hand axes made of hematite and greenstone, a hatchet, a flint chisel, a flint scraper, many bone implements, five needles or bodkins from three to six inches in length, made of the -bones of. the deer, an implement for moulding pottery, numerous peculiar implements made from the antlers of the deer and elk, a whistle made from the tooth of a young black bear, spoons made of shells, a vessel of coarse pottery, fragments of a vase, various animal bones, such as the elk, deer, rabbit, wolf, woodchuck and river mussel, and various other things, including seventeen human skeletons, in whole or in part. No bones of domestic animals were found. The exploration of the mound was more perfect and thorough than that of any other within the limits of the county, and its yield of archaeological treasure was generous. Mr. G. P. Russell, of Harvard college, with a number of gentlemen of Newark, assisted in this examination, and retained possession of some of those valuable mound deposits. This is but a single instance of the richness of this county, archaeologically considered, and shows what treasures are yet in reach of those who would give these mounds a thorough examination.

There are also several mounds on the lands of Mr. Parr, in the vicinity of the great stone mound already described; 'and one west of the plank road, on the farm of Mr. J. R. Moore, about two miles south of Newark; also, one nearly a half mile east of the cemetery, a mile north of Jacksontown. These are not remarkable for size, nor pc culiar in any respect; but one on the farm of the late William Bussey, at Fairmount, is remarks for size, it being one hundred and fifteen feet i: diameter at its base, with an altitude, at present of twenty-five feet. There is also near the banks cs the South fork, two miles from Newark, on wiu: is called Cochran's hill, a work or fortification ctf the Mound Builders.

A few acres are enclosed, perhaps between foe and ten, by a bank several feet high, which appears to have been thrown from the inside, the ditch beiru: within the enclosure. Fronting the creek, where the banks are very steep, there is no ditch for a number of rods. So far as the work was cofr structed, it is an accurate circle.

There is also an earth enclosure of low banks, and small extent, on the farm of Mr. Ronan. hit' a mile south of the foregoing, covering about one acre. It has a good sized mound standing in the ditch and bank, thirty feet in diameter and twehc feet high.

There is also, on the farm of Mr. J. Sutton, near the northern boundary of the township j small mound of earth, and also a fort or enclosure of an oblong square, enclosing half an acre or more, whose banks have been plowed over anc almost obliterated. It is situated near "Fort Spring."

The Indians, it is known, had a camp on the farm owned by Mr. J. R. Moore; and there was also an Indian encampment in a large sugar grove near Hog run, since the property of Mr. Jacob Brownfield, where the Indians often made sugar. "Big swamp," or "Two lakes," sometimes, also, called by the Indians "Big lake.' and "Little lake," or what is now called the Reser voir, was resorted to by the Indians, in consider able numbers, for the purpose of fishing. There was an Indian trail through this township, and along the Reservoir, leading from the mouth of the Wakatomika (near Dresden), crossing the Licking river at or below the mouth of the Bo* ling Green run, to King Beaverstown, near Pickerington or Lithopolis, in Fairfield county, about the head-waters of the Hock-Hocking. That the In* dians often camped along this trail, in Licking township, is most probable ; and it seems also to be a well authenticated fact that the Wyandots , Delaivares and perhaps Shawnees , had more permanent homes here than the foregoing remarks indicate. Little that is entirely reliable, however, in relation to Indian history, anterior to the settlement of the county by the whites, is known to a certainty.

The trail above mentioned is doubtless the one followed by Christopher Gist and Andrew Montour in 1751. Gist was, probably, the first white man to pass through what is now Licking township. His expedition is referred to in another chapter.

A strip of land, two and a half miles wide across the southern part of this .township, once belonged to what was known as the "Refugee lands," and the remainder to the United States military or army lands. This division and designation is explained in another chapter. The military lands, of which about two thirds of this township is comprised, were surveyed pursuant to authority granted by act of Congress, passed June 1, 1796. This township, except what belongs to the Refugee tract, on the original survey, was in the tier of townships numbered one, in range twelve.

The township was originally well timbered, abounding in the usual variety and extent of forest trees, the oak, walnut, hickory, and sugar being the principal. It is agreeably, and about in equal proportions, diversified with hill and valley; onethird being low, level or flat land of superior fertility ; another third being gently undulating and the remainder made up of more abrupt and less productive elevations or hills.

The South fork of Licking, which forms the western boundary of this township; Hog run and its tributaries; Swamp run and Dutch fork, are its principal streams. The bottom lands along these streams are among the best in the county, the soil being deep, rich, enduring and exceedingly productive.

The township was organized in 1801, as one of the townships of Fairfield county, and then embraced the whole of the territory (except the Refugee tract,) which now constitutes the county of Licking, and perhaps a portion also of what is now Knox county. Thus it continued until 1807, when it was reduced to half the limits of Licking county, by the formation of the township of Granville. Subsequently, by the formation of Union township on the west, and of Bowling Green on the east, both in 1808; and of Newark on the north in 1810, and Franklin on the east in 1812, it was reduced to its present dimensions. The county lines of Fairfield and Perry, which run through the Reservoir, form its southern boundary.

The pioneers of this township were Phillip Sutton, Job Rathbone, John and George Gillespie, who arrived in 1801; Benjamin Green, Richard Pitzer and John Stadden, in 1802; Major Anthony Pitzer, Jacob Swisher, Stephen Robinson and perhaps others, in 1803.

Judge Brumback contributes to the pioneer papers an interesting article on Hog run and the early settlers along that stream. It is freely quoted from. *

Probably about 1804, the hogs of one John Ward, of Granville township, running at large, in the fall of the year, strayed across the South fork of Licking, and wintered on or near the land since owned by Jeremiah Grove, and along the little creek just south of it. The animals found in the abundant mast ample food. In the ensuing spring the owner discovered his stock, numerically increased and in good condition, and immediately, it is said, named the stream "Hog run." Richard Green thus accounts for the name. He also states that the settlers often thereafter called Mr. Ward "Hog Ward."

Authority, perhaps equally good, exists for saying, that about the same time the hogs of Isaac Stadden, then residing below Newark, near the Bowling Green, having strayed away were found on the same stream, and that it received its name from that circumstance. This opinion was entertained by Mrs. Stadden, widow ot Isaac Stadden, who died July 3, 1870, in the ninety-first year of her age.

Others account for the name on the theory that some one else's hogs multiplied and fattened along the stream, and their owner, with an early settler's natural gratitude for an abundant stock of pork, gave it the same, suggestive if not elegant, name. Certain it is (and perhaps little else regarding the name is certain) that soon after the whites began to settle in the county, the stream received this name. Doubtless the abundance of beech-nuts and acorns, found in the valley at that time, made it a good place for hogs at large. This circumstance alone might have suggested the name to several persons at the same time.

The first settlers on Hog run, according to the recollection of Mr. Richard Green, were Phillip Sutton and John Rathbone, who settled on the tributary reaching toward Jacksontown, in the vicinity of Harvey T. Black's residence and lower down. They must have settled in 1800, or not later than 1801. Rathbone settled on land afterward owned by Mr. Black, and Sutton on land afterward owned by James Davis. Of these persons there is little known except the single fact that they came from Pennsylvania.

The records show that during the year 1800 and 1801, a number of conveyances of land were made. Early in 1801, George and John Gillespie settled on the same tributary, and September 21, 1801, George executed a conveyance of two hundred acres in the southwest corner of the fourth quarter, part of which was afterward owned by James Davis. The Gillespies remained in this vicinity but a few months.

In 1799, Benjamin Green and family, consisting of a wife and ten children, all the latter unmarried; and Richard Pitzer, son-in-law of Mr. Green, with his family, came to Marietta from Maryland. In the spring of 1800, they started for the Licking valley. The women and children under charge of Mr. Pitzer, with eight pack-horses, came up by land, along a trail. They drove through with them several head of cattle. Benjamin Green and his son Richard, with a hired hand, a Mr. John Kelley, manned a large canoe, or barge, in which they conveyed their household goods and other freight by water to the mouth of the Licking, present site of Zanesville. Among this freight were flour from fifteen bushels of wheat, and the running gears of a wagon, probably the first one brought into the county. In August of the same year Isaac Stadden brought in a wagon, probably the second one. With it he moved his family from Northumberland county, Pennsylvania.

of the party. From Zanesville to Shawnee run they cut their own road. When they arrived at Bowling Green they found the families of Hughes. Ratliff and that of a man named John Carpenter. Mr. Green thinks these were all the families then within the limits of Licking county. If Jone>, Benjamin and the Fords came, as some think, during this year, it was probably at a later period. Messrs. Green and Pitzer located first on Shawnee run, on lands afterwards owned by Rev. P. N O'Banon, where they resided two years.

February 25, 1802, Benjamin Green acquired lands on Hog run, and soon after he and Mr. Pitzer occupied these lands. The land where Green settled was afterward owned by James Davis; and Pitzer located a little lower down, between him and the run on what was afterward knowrn as the low'er Beard farm. They were the first settlers on that part of Hog run, after Rathbone, Sutton and the Gillespies. Green bought one hundred and fifty acres for three hundred and fifty dollars, and in two years sold it to Stephen Robinson for nine hundred dollars. He had cleared off thirty' acres

After this sale he contracted with Samuel Dick a large proprietor, who had two thousand eight hundred acres of land lying on both sides of Hog run, and west of the road from Newark to Jacksontown. He located at the spring, on this land, on that part afterward owned by Jesse R. and Joseph J. Moore, near w'here a small, old brick house now stands, north of the residence of John Bruni back. This spring, or rather collection of springs, forming a little swamp, was well known. Richard Green says that he, on different occasions after 1804, saw Shawnee Indians encamped in the tint ber near to and south of the springs, and between these and the house of John Brumback. At one time he saw' thirty encamped there, w'ho came from Raccoon tow n, near Johnstown.

The Greens must have settled here before 1805, and here Benjamin Green lived until the death 01 his wife in 1822, when he went to reside with hi=> son, Daniel Green, near Moscow', Licking county. In 1823 he married Mrs. Martha I^ewis, daughter of Theophilus Rees, and widow' of David Lewi*, and died in 1835, aged seventy-six years. He had a family of fourteen children, some of whom afterward became prominent in the affairs of the coun- ty. Richard, one of the sons, lived in this county seventy-two years, dying April 16, 1872, aged eighty-seven years. Mr. Pitzer died in 1819, on Hog run. In 1802, soon after Green settled on Hog run, Jacob Swisher, a settler from Hardy county, Virginia, located on a one hundred acre tract, now part of the homestead of Mr. Benjamin Green. He had expended all his means in reaching the country, and, without money or assistance, undertook to open up and pay for his purchase. He erected a "pole cabin" near the present residence of Mr. Green. The forest afforded him abundance of game, and the stream a good supply of fish. In after years he used to claim to his wife and daughters, that he was a better cook than they, for while he kept house in his cabin, his corn bread and mush never adhered to the skillet, but came out smooth and unbroken. They in defense always urged that this circumstance was not attributable to the superiority of his cooking, but rather to the fact that he cooked and roasted much fat bear meat and venison, and then made mush or baked pone without washing the skillet thoroughly enough to get off all the grease.

In this solitary way, Mr. Swisher lived several years, when he erected a second cabia of round logs, in dimensions, fourteen by sixteen feet. Into this establishment of tw'o rooms, he, in 1804, installed his new' wife, Phebe, the daughter of his old neighbor, Benjamin Green. Mr. Swisher earned part, if not all, the price of his one hundred acres of land (one hundred and seventy-five dollars), by packing salt on horseback from the Scioto salt works, in the vicinity of Chillicothe to his neighborhood. This was before any road had been cut out. One man took two horses, and followed the trail through the woods. Each horse carried four bushels of salt, which cost at the works one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, and sold here at four dollars per bushel. It took five or six days to make the round trip. Several years afterward, or about 1809, the settlers thought themselves fortunate in being able to exchange wheat for salt at Zanesville, bushel for bushel.

prices for produce during those early years. Mr. Green says that during the first two or three years, corn sold for fifty cents per bushel, and pork seven dollars per hundredweight. Wheat was not much raised at first, but when produced in quantities exceeding the wants of the neighborhood, often sold as low as tw'enty-five cents a bushel The first two calico dresses Mrs. Swisher purchased, cost her one dollar per yard, but they lasted her many years, even until her daughters grew into womanhood.

Mr. Alexander Holden was also an early settler in Licking township. He was a man of more than ordinary capacity and intelligence. He was a justice of the peace several years; commissioner of the county from 1817 to 1820, and from 1824 to 1827, and was also elected to the legislature in 1808. He was a man of meritorious character, generally esteemed, and of much decision and firmness. He died nearly fifty years ago.

Major Anthony Pitzer was also an early settler, and rendered valuable military services during the war of 1812. In 1816 he was elected to the office of associate judge, in which capacity he served several years; and in i8i8and 1819, was a member of the legislature. He was a man of much force and many excellent qualities, but of limited scholarship and attainments. He w*as a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio from Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1803, settling on Hog run, wffiere he died May May 14, 1852, aged eighty-six years.

Samuel Patterson who was elected to the Ohio senate in 1848, and Nicholas Shaver who collected the taxes of Licking township from 1820 to 1822, were also pioneers of this township.

In 1803 Rev. Asa Shinn, then a very young but promising minister of the Methodist church, was appointed to the Hock-Hocking circuit, then just organized, and which turned out to be one which took him four weeks to travel over. It led him into what are now the counties of Fairfield, Licking, Muskingum, Coshocton, Knox, Delaware and Franklin. There was upon it but one regular appointment in this county, and that was at the house - a good sized double-cabin - of Mr. Benjamin

Green, in the valley of Hog run. Mr. Shinn's appointment before reaching this one, was on the Hock-Hocking river, at or near Lancaster; and the next one after it, was at, or near the mouth of the Wakatomika, or a few miles beyond it, at the house of a Mr. Wamsly.

Mr. Shinn continued his labors a year, beginning late in 1803, and ending in the autumn of 1804. This organization at the house of Mr. Green was, doubtless, the pioneer religious society of Licking county.

Mr. Green was a Baptist, and until near the close of his life, occasionally exercised the functions of a minister of that denomination, and might properly be ranked with the pioneer preachers of Licking county. He was tolerant of all religions, and as his wife and children were disposed to cherish the Methodist faith, he gave support and encouragement to Mr. Shinn's enterprise.

The following are some, and perhaps nearly all, the church members, and those who became such during Mr. Shinn's ministry: Richard Pitzer, Mrs. Pitzer, Jocob Swisher, Mrs. Swisher, John Stadden, Mrs. Stadden, Sarah Green and Mrs. Green, wife of Benjamin Green. It was rather a family church, the male members being sons-in-law of Mr. Green, and the female members his wife and daughters.

The great promise of Mr. Shinn's early career as a pioneer preacher in the west was fully realized on reaching the full maturity of his intellect, for he became eminent as an author, no less than as a divine. Hon. Isaac Smucker gives it as his judgment that no man of better intellect or of a higher order of pulpit talent, ever exercised the functions of a minister of the gospel in this county. He was born in New Jersey, May 3, 1771. His parents were Quakers, and the boy did not enjoy any educational privileges. He had natural ability, however, and while yet in his "teens" attracted attention as an exhorter.

Without making any application for a license to preach, he was urged to this calling by a presiding elder of the Methodist church, who procured for him a license, and before he was twenty-one years of age was employed as a traveling preacher. He received his first appointment in 1801, and continued in the itinerancy of the Methodist Episcopal church more than twenty-seven years.

His parents moved to the vicinity of Clarbburgh, Virginia, when he was yet young, when schools or institutions of learning of any kind were scarce, and educational matters almost wholly neglected. The little education he possesed was obtained from reading and from his association with men of improved minds.

He became a great favorite, at one time, wii the people of Baltimore, and his residence there enabled him to improve his mind and complete a literary work upon which he was engaged, called the "Plan of Salvation." The work evinced 2 great deal of thought and discrimination, but ga*e him trouble with his brethren, on account of some peculiar views therein expressed, which some thought sounded like heresy. He afterward published a work on the rectitude of the "Supreme Being."

Rev. John Bums spent two years with Mr. Shinn at Allegheny City station, commencing ir 1840. He had ample opportunity to know him. and his decided convictions were that he was the best man he ever knew. He was social and companionable, and in all his intercourse governed by unaffected, natural simplicity of manners. A hearer at a camp meeting at Baltimore, in 1815, thus describes him :

"There he stood, with a rather youthful appearance, pt*>. calm and self possessed, with a round, full, mellow voice, ea-d) reaching the most distant hearer. He seemed an angel in human flesh, come from a higher region on that great occasion to instruct mankind in their highest interests. He was strong r argument, apt and clear in illustration, fervent and imprcssm in his manner, and the latter half of his discourse was overwhelmingly eloquent. He had very little power of imaginaiicc - massive thought made him eloquent."

He preached in Newark, when on a preaching tour to the west, one or two sermons, as late as 1833. He died January n, 1853, aud was buried in the beautiful cemetery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thus passed away the pioneer preacher 0: Licking county.

The little pioneer church organized by Mr. Shinn on Hog run, in 1804, has maintained its existence to the present day, a period of seventy-six years. The society erected a log church in 1818, oraye3r later, near where Mr. Shinn organized it. This was afterward moved to the farm of Rev. Benjamin Green, north of where it stood originally, and was.

twenty-seven years ago, succeeded by a frame building, which stands on the farm of Mr. Anthony Pitzer, about two miles from where the original church was erected. The pulpit of the church has been occupied with a good degree of regularity ever since its organization; but its membership is, at present, rather limited. The following are the names of the preachers who succeeded Mr. Shinn until the year 1810, as shown by the conference minutes: Revs. James Quinn and John Meeks, from 1804 to 1805; James Quinn and Joseph Williams, from 1805 to 1806; John Meeks and James Axley, from 1806 to 1807; Joseph Hays and James King, from 1807 to 1808; Ralph Lotspeitch and Isaac Quinn, from 1808 to 1809; Benjamin Lakin, John Manly and John Johnson, from 1809 to 1810.

More than sixty years ago the Revs. James B. Finley and C. Springer, the latter of whom is authority for this statement, held a quarterly meeting in this church. They reached it from the Muskingum region, by way of a blind bridle-path, which led them mostly through the woods, a little south of Flint ridge. It is probable that this meeting was held at the time of the dedication of the first church edifice, though not certain. Revs. Noah Fidler, Jesse Stoneman, and Levi Shinn, brother of Asa, were also pioneer preachers here.

The Christian Union church, a few years ago, organized a society within the bounds of this pioneer Methodist church, whose members were, for the most part, formerly Methodists, and members of the Hog Run church. The two societies occupy, jointly, the church edifice, and are of nearly equal strength in membership, neither, probably, numbering more than a score, or thereabouts.

The Friendship, or, as it is commonly called, "The Hog Rjin Baptist church" (Old School) is one of the pioneer churches of Licking township, and of the county. It has had a career of more than sixty-nine years, and has always exerted a degree of influence second to but few churches in the county. Its positive creed, the free, full, outspoken profession of its doctrines, and the unreserved declaration of their belief by its adherents, their readiness to defend the faith they cherish, and the avowal and prompt support by arguments of their somewhat peculiar views as to faith and ecclesiastical usages, have all tended to attract public attention. The foregoing considerations, together with the wealth they represent, their numbers, their long history and identification with pioneer times, and other causes, have contributed to make this church a power - a church vigorous, widely known, and of considerable influence. The membership of this church has generally been considerable, and crowds usually attend/its ministrations. In 1818, sixty-two years ago, they erected a church which they continued to occupy forty-two years. It was of hewed logs, with a gallery running around three sides of it, and more than a third of a century ago Rev. George Debolt occupied its pulpit. In i860 it was superceded by a good frame building, which is yet occupied. It is of good size and stands on or near the site of the original one, near Van Burenton, where the plank road crosses the northeasterly branch of Hog run. Rev. John W. Patterson was the first preacher in this church. The membership is now half a hundred or more.

The Friendship church was organized February 20, 1811, by Rev. Thomas Powell and Rev. John W. Patterson. The following persons were the original members: Samuel Meredith, John Simpson, Sarah Patterson, Elizabeth Meredith, Mary Sutton, John W. Patterson, Thomas Deweese, Ann Simpson, and Thomas Powell. Rev. Mr. Patterson was pastor of this church about a dozen years or more after its organization, and was succeeded by Rev. Eli Ashbrook, Elder Hill, Rev. George Debolt, Rev. Christopher Coffman, Rev. Joshua Breese, Rev. John Parker, Rev. Matthew Brown, Rev. S. Meredith, Rev. C. McClellan, Rev. Zachariah Thomas, and Rev. Benjamin Lampton. This society also own a church near Linnville, erected in 1848.

The denominations known as the Methodists and United Brethren, have each a frame church at Jacksontown. They are not large, but may be regarded as prosperous. Each of them is a preaching appointment on a circuit, and its pulpit is mainly supplied by "itinerants," according to the usages of these denominations respectively.

The edifice occupied by the Methodist society is neat in appearance and respectable in proportions, and was erected forty years ago or more. That of the United Brethren was originally built by another denomination, and purchased and repaired by its present owners. The membership of the Methodist church is sixty or more, with a Sabbath-school of nearly a hundred pupils.

The number of members of the United Brethren church is not large, but the Sabbath-school is strong in numbers and in a flourishing condition.

The Fairmount Presbyterian church was organized March 24, 1834, by Rev. Jonathan Cable, assisted by Rev. W. Wylie and Rev. Jacob Little. The original members were Harvey R. Gilmore, Dr. Joseph Mathers, Samuel Dobbins, Charles Wallace, Mrs. Wallace, James Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton, Sarah Smith, Harriet Smith, William Bounds, Rebecca Cunningham and Lucy Gilmore. Rev. Jonathan Cable was the first pastor, and served from 1834 to 1838. Their ministers were Rev. Ebenezer Buckingham, from 1838 to 1839; C. N. Ransom, 1840 to 1846; N. C. Coffin, 1846 to 1851; N. C. McBride, 1851 to 1856; D. H. Coyner, 1856 to 1857; N. C. McBride, 1857 to 1869.

The membership is more tKan half a hundred, and a large and active Sabbath-school is connected with the church. The original elders were Dr. Mather, A. D. Caldwell, Charles Wallace and H. R. Gilmore.

The church building is of fair proportions, and was erected in 1835. It occupies a beautiful elevation (Fairmount,) on the eastern borders of the township, in full view of the National road, near Amsterdam, and in the vicinity of a large mound and numerous other works of the Mound Builders.

Mr. Richard Green, whose residence in this township dates back to 1802, is authority for the information that a Mr. Taylor taught the first school in the township, in the Green settlement, about the year 1806. Educational interests have continued to receive a fair share of patronage and fostering care of the people of the township, which is now divided into eight districts, most of them being provided with a good school-house.

The Ohio canal, along the western boundary of the township, and the National road, running through it from east to west, both constructed about fifty years ago, the former by the State, and the latter by the general Government, very largely contributed to the convenience of the people of this township, and greatly promoted their maters prosperity. The National road runs througr Licking township from east to west The work a its survey, location, grubbing, grading and ma a: amizing was accomplished during the interval be tween the years 1825 and 1835.

In one of the earlier years of this period, M* Thomas Harris, as proprietor of the land, laid or. the village of Jacksontown and named it after General Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, was the successful candidate in 1828, as well as n 1832, for the presidency. Mr. Harris was a zeal ous Jacksonian, especially in the campaign o4' 1828. His town started off at a lively pace, an*: soon became a post town of fair promise, but :: never attained to a population much greater thar at present - something less than three hundred

Avondale is merely a railroad station on the Ref ervoir, the only building being the "Avonda't house." It is a pleasure resort for Newark peop>. and others in this vicinity, who go there to fir during the fishing and boating season. It is a ct lightful place for a day's rest and recreation.

Isaac Stadden was the first justice of the peace in this township, while it was yet a part of Fairfield county. He was elected in January, 1802, ai ar election held at the cabin of Elias Hughes, on the Bowling Green, Hughes being at the same tin* and place elected captain of militia. John War den became justice of the peace a year or twolatr and Abraham Wright was next in order, and wa> in office in 1806, and probably some years earlitf Alexander Holden was among the early rnag^f trates, and was frequently re-elected. Samcrl Hupp, Elijah Sutton, John Green, Matthe* Black, Herman Cafifry, Eldad Cooley, Richard Stadden, John Brumback, Samuel Patterson, Isa*' Green, James Pitzer, Thomas Ewing, James Ste* art, Jesse R. Moore, B. D. Sanford, Martin fttfmore, Thomas Germain, John T. Armstrong, John Woolard, Elias Padgett, F. M. Layton, and Oli^ Davis were also among the justices of this to*fr ship, serving pretty nearly in the order in which they are named.

Derrick Crusen, Samuel Meredith and others. Samuel Musselman, one of the pioneers of this township, is yet (1880) living, at the age of ninetyfive.

Source changes here: from History of Licking County, O. Its Past and Present, by N.N. Hill Jr, published 1881; 5,338 words in this source stream.

Licking Township

'*Land of the forest and the rock, Of dark blue lake and mighty river, Of mountains reared on high, to mock The storm's career and lightning's shock : My own green land forever!"

HE Mound Builders' works are found in various parts of Licking township, the stone mound about a mile south of Jacksontown being of the greatest magnitude. It was of gigantic proportions, measuring one hundred and eightythree feet in diameter at its base, and when found by the pioneer settlers, was between thirty and forty feet in height. Many hundred wagon loads of: stone were removed from it, and used in the construction of the reservoir, in the cellar walls in the neighborhood, and in the villages along the National road, so that at present it will not probably average more than eight feet in height. A tolerably well preserved coffin, containing a skeleton, was found in it some years ago, with a quantity of beads and other trinkets. Other but less authenticated relics are often named in connection with this mound. The '"decalogue stone" with some others require verification. 'This mound is situated on high ground, and was built of unhammered stone of tolerably uniform size and very large. Hon. Isaac Smucker, who is well informed on the subject, says it was the largest stone mound of which he has any knowledge. It

The earth mound on the plank road between Newark and Jacksontown, on the farm of Mr. Taylor, is one of good size, and much interest attaches to it on account of the very careful and scientific examination given it, a few years ago, by Professor Marsh, of Yale college, and who gave it a very extensive notoriety through '"'Silliman's Journal," as well as in a carefully prepared pamphlet publication. He found in it ashes, charcoal, flint, a broken pipe made of soft limestone, pieces of a tube of the same material, a string of over one hundred native copper beads, strung on a twisted cord of coarse vegetable fibre; also shell beads, human skeletons, decayed layers of reddish brown powder, layers of burned clay, white chaff, implements of various kinds, lance and arrowheads, six hand axes made of hematite and green- .

stone, a hatchet, a flint chisel, a flint scraper, many bone implements, five needles or bodkins from three to six inches in length, made of the bones of the deer, an implement for moulding pottery, numerous peculiar implements made from the antlers of the deer and elk, a whistle made from the tooth of a young black bear, spoons made of shells, a vessel of coarse pottery, fragments of a vase, various animal bones, such as the elk, deer, rabbit, wolf, woodchuck and river mussel, and various other things, including seventeen human skeletons, in whole or in part. No The exploration of the mound was more perfect and thorough than that of any other within the limits of the county, and its yield of archeological treasure was generous. Mr. G. P. Russell, of Harvard college, with a number of gentlemen of Newark, assisted in this examination, and retained possession of some of those valuable mound deposits. This is but a single instance of the richness of this county, archeologically considered, and shows what treasures are yet in reach of those who would give these mounds a thorough examination.

There are also several mounds on the lands of Mr. Parr, in the vicinity of the great stone mound already described; 'and one west of the plank road, on the farm of Mr. J. R. Moore, about two miles south of Newark; also, one nearly a half mile east of the cemetery, a mile north of Jacksonbones of domestic animals were found.

town. These are not remarkable for size, nor peculiar in any respect; but one on the farm of the late William Bussey, at Fairmount, is remarkable for size, it being one hundred and fifteen feet in diameter at its base, with an altitude, at present, of twenty-five feet. There is also near the banks of the South fork, two miles from Newark, on what is called Cochran's hill, a work or fortification of the Mound Builders.

A few acres are enclosed, perhaps between five and ten, by a bank several feet high, which appears to have been thrown from the inside, the ditch being within the enclosure. Fronting the creek, where the banks are very steep, there is no ditch for a number of rods. So far as the work was constructed, it is an accurate circle.

There is also an earth enclosure of low banks, and small extent, on the farm of Mr. Ronan, half a mile south of the foregoing, covering about one acre. It has a good sized mound standing in the ditch and bank, thirty feet in diameter and twelve feet high.

There is also, on the farm of Mr. J. Sutton, near the northern boundary of the township, a small mound of earth, and also a fort or enclosure of an oblong square, enclosing half an acre or more, whose banks have been plowed over and almost obliterated. It is situated near 'Fort Spring."

The Indians, it is known, had a camp on the farm owned by Mr. J. R. Moore; and there was also an Indian encampment in a large sugar grove near Hog run, since the property of Mr. Jacob Brownfield, where the Indians often made sugar. "Big swamp," or "Two lakes," sometimes, also, called by the Indians " Big lake," and "Little lake," or what is now called the Reservoir, was resorted to by the Indians, in considerable numbers, for the purpose of fishing. There was an Indian trail through this township, and along the Reservoir, leading from the mouth of the Wakatomika (near Dresden), crossing the Licking river'at or below the mouth of the Bowling Green run, to King Beaverstown, near Pickerington or Lithopolis, in Fairfield county, about the head-waters of the Hock-Hocking. That the Indians often camped along this trail, in Licking township, is most probable; and it seems also to:be a well authenticated fact that the IVyandots, Delawares and perhaps Shawnees, had more permanent homes here than the foregoing remarks indicate. Little that is entirely reliable, however, in relation to Indian history, anterior to the settlement of the county by the whites, is known to a certainty.

The trail above mentioned is doubtless the one followed by Christopher Gist and Andrew Montour in 1751. Gist was, probably, the first white man to pass through what is now Licking township. His expedition is referred to in another chapter.

A strip of land, two anda half miles wide across the southern part of this township, once belonged to what was known as the "Refugee lands," and the remainder to the United States military or army lands. plained in another chapter.

prised, were surveyed pursuant to authority granted by act of Congress, passed June 1, 1796. This township, except what belongs to the Refugee tract, on the original survey, was in the tier of townships numbered one, in range twelve.

The township was originally well timbered, abounding in the usual variety and extent of forest trees, the oak, walnut, hickory, and sugar being the principal. It is agreeably, and about in equal proportions, diversified with hill and valley; onethird being low, level or flat land of superior fertility; another third being gently undulating and the remainder made up of more abrupt and less productive elevations or hills.

The South fork of Licking, which forms the western boundary of this township; Hog run and its tributaries ; Swamp run and Dutch fork, are its principal streams. The bottom lands along these streams are among the best in the county, the soil being deep, rich, enduring and exceedingly productive.

the townships of Fairfield county, and then embraced the whole of the territory (except the Refugee tract.) which now constitutes the county of Licking, and perhaps a portion also of what 1s now Knox county. 'Thus it continued until 1807, when it was reduced to half the limits of Licking county, by the formation of the township of Granville. Subsequently, by the formation of Union township on. the west, and of Bowling Green on the east, both in 1808; and of Newark on the north in r8ro, and Franklin on the east in 1812, it was reduced to its present dimensions, The county lines of Fairfield and Perry, which run through the Reservoir, form its southern boundary.

The pioneers of this township were Phillip Sutton, Job Rathbone, John and George Gillespie, who arrived in 1801; Benjamin Green, Richard Pitzer and John Stadden, in 1802; Major Anthony Pitzer, Jacob Swisher, Stephen Robinson and perhaps others, in 1803.

Judge Brumback contributes to the pioneer papers an interesting article on Hog run and the carly settlers along that stream. It is freely quoted from.

Probably about 1804, the hogs of one John Ward, of Granville township, running at large, in the fall of the year, strayed across the South fork of Licking, and wintered on or near the land since owned by Jeremiah Grove, and along the little creek just south of it. The animals found in the abundant mast ample food. Jn the ensuing spring the owner discovered his stock, numerically increased and in good conditiqn, and immediately, it is said, named the stream "Hog run." Richard Green thus accounts for the name. He also states that the settlers often thereafter called Mr. Ward "Hog Ward."

Authority, perhaps equally good, exists for saying, that about the same time the hogs of Isaac Stadden, then residing below Newark, near the Bowling Green, having strayed away were found on the same stream, and that it received its name from that circumstance. tained by Mrs. Stadden, widow of Isaac Stadden, who died July 3, 1870, in the ninety-first year of

Others account for the name on the theory that some one else's hogs multiplicd and fattened along the stream, and their owner, with an early settler's natural gratitude for an abundant stock of pork, gave it the same, suggestive if not elegant, name. Certain it is (and perhaps little else regarding the name is certain) that soon after the whites began to settle in the county, the stream received this name. Doubtless the abundance of beech-nuts and acorns, found in the valley at that time, made it a good place for hogs at large. 'This circumstance alone might have suggested the name to several persons at the same time.

The first settlers on Hog run, according to the recollection of Mr. Richard Green, were Phillip Sutton and John Rathbone, who settled on the tributary reaching toward Jacksontown, in the vicinity of Harvey T. Black's residence and lower They must have settled in 1800, or not later than 1801. Rathbone settled on land afterward owned .by Mr. Black, and Sutton on land afterward owned by James Davis. Of these persons there is little known except the single fact and 1801, a number of conveyances of land were made. Early in 1801, George and John Gillespie settled on the same tributary, and September 21, 1801, George executed a conveyance of two hundred acres in the southwest corner of the fourth quarter, part of which was afterward owned by James Davis. The Gillespies remained in this vicinity but a few months.

In 1799, Benjamin Green and family, consisting of a wife and ten children, all the latter unmarried; and Richard Pitzer, son-in-law of Mr. Green, with In the spring of 1800, they started for the Licking valley. The women and children under charge of Mr. Pitzer, with eight pack-horses, came up by land, along a trail. They drove through with them several head of cattle. Benjamin Green and his son Richard, with a hired hand, a Mr. John Kelley, manned a large canoe, or barge, in which they conveyed their household goods and other freight by water to the mouth of the Licking, present site of Zanesville. Among this freight were flour from fifteen bushels of wheat, and the running gears of a wagon, probably the first one brought into the county. In August of the same year Isaac Stadden brought in a wagon, probably the second one. With it he moved his family from Northumberland county, Pennsylvania.

of the party. From Zanesville to Shawnee run they cut their own road. When they arrived at Bowling Green they found the families of Hughes, Ratliff and that of a man named John Carpenter. Mr. Green thinks these were all the families then within the limits of Licking county. If Jones, Benjamin and the Fords came, as some think, during this year, it was probably at a later period. Messrs. Green and Pitzer located first on Shawnee run, on lands afterwards owned by Rev. P. N. O'Banon, where they resided two years.

February 25, 1802, Benjamin Green acquired lands on Hog run, and soon after he and Mr. Pitzer occupied these lands. The land where Green settled was afterward owned by James Davis; and Pitzer located a little lower down, between him and the run on what was afterward known as the lower Beard farm. 'They were the first settlers on that part of Hog run, after Rathbone, Sutton and the Gillespies. Green bought one hundred and fifty acres for three hundred and fifty dollars, and in two years sold it to Stephen Robinson for nine hundred dollars. He had cleared off thirty acres.

After this sale he contracted with Samuel Dick, a large proprietor, who had two thousand eight hundred acres of land lying on both sides of Hog run, and west of the road from Newark to Jacksontown. He located at the spring, on this land, on that part afterwerd owned by Jesse R. and Joseph J. Moore, near where a small, old brick house now stands, north of the residence of John Brumback. 'This spring, or rather collection of springs, forming a little swamp, was well known. Richard Green says that he, on different occasions after 1804, saw Shawnee Indians encamped in the timber near to and south of the springs, and between these and the house of John Brumback. At one time he saw thirty encamped there, who came from Raccoon town, near Johnstown.

The Greens must have settled here before 1805, and here Benjamin Green lived urtil the death of his wife in 1822, when he went to reside with his son, Daniel Green, near Moscow, Licking county. In 1823 he married Mrs. Martha Lewis, daughter of Theophilus Rees, and widow of David Lewis, and died in 1835, aged seventy-six years. He had a family of fourteen children, some of whom afterward became prominent in the affairs of the coun- ty. Richard, one of the sons, lived in this county seventy-two years, dying April 16, 1872, aged eighty-seven years. Mr. Pitzer died in 1819, on Hog run. In 1802, soon after Green settled on Hog run, Jacob Swisher, a settler from Hardy county, Virginia, located on a one hundred acre tract, now part of the homestead of Mr. Benjamin Green. He had expended all his means in reaching the country, and, without money or assistance, undertook to open up and pay for his purchase. He erected a "pole cabin" near the present residence of Mr. Green. The forest afforded him abundance of game, and the stream a good supply of fish. In after years he-used to claim to his wife and daughters, that he was a better cook than they, for while he kept house in his cabin, his corn bread and mush never adhered to the skillet, but came out smooth and unbroken. They in defense always urged that this circumstance was not attributable to the superiority of his cooking, but rather to the fact that he cooked and roasted much fat bear meat and venison, and then made mush or baked pone without washing the skillet thoroughly enough to get off all the grease.

In this solitary way, Mr. Swisher lived several years, when he erected a second cabin of round logs, in dimensions, fourteen by sixteen feet. Into this establishment of two rooms, he, in 1804, installed his new wife, Phebe, the daughter of his old neighbor, Benjamin Green. Mr. Swisher earned part, if not all, the price of his one hundred acres of land (one hundred and seventy-five dollars), by packing salt on horseback from the Scioto salt works, in the vicinity of Chillicothe to his neighborhood. 'This was before any road had been cut out. One man took two horses, and followed the trail through the woods. Each horse carried four bushels of salt, which cost at the works one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, and sold here at four dollars per bushel. It took five or six days to make the round trip. Several years afterward, or about 1809, the settlers thought themselves fortunate in being able to exchange wheat for salt at Zanesville, bushel for bushel.

prices for produce during those early years, Mr. Green says that during the first two or three years, corn sold for fifty cents per bushel, and pork seven dollars per hundredweight. Wheat was not much raised at first, but when produced in quantities exceeding the wants of the neighborhood, often sold as low as twenty-five centsa bushel. The first two calico dresses Mrs, Swisher purchased, cost her one dollar per yard, but they lasted her many years, even until her daughters grew into womanhood.

Mr, Alexander Holden was also an early settler in Licking township. He was a man of more than ordinary capacity and intelligence. He was a justice of the peace several years; commissioner of the county from 1817 to 1820, and from 1824 to 1827, and was also elected to the legislature in 1808. He was a man of meritorious character, generally esteemed, and of much decision and firmness. He died nearly fifty years ago.

Major Anthony Pitzer was also an early settler, and rendered valuable military services during the war of 1812. In 1816 he was elected to the office of associate judge, in which capacity he served several years; and in 1818 and 1819, was a member of the legislature. He was a man of much force and many excellent qualities, but of limited scholarship and attainments. He was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio from Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1803, settling on Hog run, where he died May May 14, 1852, aged eighty-six years.

Samuel Patterson who was elected to the Ohio senate in 1848, and Nicholas Shaver who collected the taxes of Licking township from 1820 to 1822, were also pioneers of this township.

In 1803 Rev. Asa Shinn, then a very young but promising minister of the Methodist church, was appointed to the Hock-Hocking circuit, then just organized, and which turned out to be one which took him four weeks to travel over. It led him into what are now the counties of Fairfield, Licking, Muskingum, Coshocton, Knox, Delaware and Franklin. There was upon it but one regular appointment in this county, and that was at the house

Green, in the valley of Hog run. Mr. Shinn's appointment before reaching this one, was on the Hock-Hocking river, at or near Lancaster; and the next one after it, was at, or near the mouth of the Wakatomika, or a few miles beyond it, at the house of a Mr. Wamsly.

Mr. Shinn continued his labors a year, beginning late in 1803, and ending in the autumn of 1804. This organization at the house of Mr. Green was, doubtless, the pioneer religious society of Licking county.

Mr. Green was a Baptist, and until near the close of his life, occasionally exercised the functions of a minister of that denomination, and might properly be ranked with the pioneer preachers of Licking caunty. He was tolerant of all religions, and as his wife and children were disposed to cherish the Methodist faith, he gave support and encouragement to Mr. Shinn's enterprise.

The following are some, and perhaps nearly all, the church members, and those who became such daring Mr. Shinn's ministry: Richard Pitzer, Mrs. Pitzer, Jocob Swisher, Mrs. Swisher, John Stadden, Mrs. Stadden, Sarah Green and Mrs. Green, wife of Benjamin Green. It was rather a family church, the male members being sons-in-law of Mr. Green, and the female members his wife and daughters.

The great promise of Mr. Shinn's early career as a ploneer preacher in the west was fully realized on reaching the full maturity of his intellect, for he became eminent as an author, no less than as a divine. Hon. Isaac Smucker gives it as his judgment that no man of better intelleet or of a higher order of pulpit talent, ever exercised the functions of a minister of the gospel in this county. He was born in New Jersey, May 3, 1771. His parents were Quakers, and the boy did not enjoy any educational privileges. He had natural ability, however, and while yet in his "teens" attracted attention as an exhorter,

Without making any application for a license to preach, he was urged to this calling by a presiding elder of the Methodist church, who procured for him a license, and before he was twenty-one years of age was employed as a traveling preacher. He received his first appointment in 1801, and continued in the itinerancy of the Methodist Episcopal church more than twenty-seven years.

His parents moved to the vicinity of Clarksburgh, Virginia, when he was yet young, when schools or institutions of learning of any kind were scarce, and educational matters almost wholly neglected. The little education he possesed was obtained from reading and from his association with men of improved minds.

He became a great favorite, at one time, with the people of Baltimore, and his residence there enabled him to improve his mind and complete a literary work upon which he was engaged, called the "Plan of Salvation." The work evinced a great deal of thought and discrimination, but gave him trouble with his brethren, on account of some peculiar views therein expressed, which some thought sounded like heresy. He afterward published a work on the rectitude of the "Supreme Being."

Rev. John Burns spent two years with Mr. Shinn at Allegheny City station, commencing in 1840. He had ample opportunity to know him, and his decided convictions were that he was the best man he ever knew. He was social and companionable, and in all his intercourse governed by unaffected, natural simplicity of manners. A hearer at a camp meeting at Baltimore, in 1813, thus describes him: argument, apt and clear in illustration, fervent and impressive in his manner, and the latter half of his discourse was overwhelmingly eloquent. He had very little power of imagination

He preached in Newark, when on a preaching tour to the west, one or two sermons, as late as 1833. He died January 11, 1853, and was buried in the beautiful cemetery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 'Thus passed away the pioneer preacher of Licking county.

The little pioneer church organized by Mr. Shinn on Hog run, in 1804, has maintained its existence to the present day, a period of seventy-six years, The society erected a log church in 1818, or a year later, near where Mr. Shinn organized it. This was afterward moved to the farm of Rev. Benjamin Green, north of where it stood originally, and was, twenty-seven years ago, succeeded by a frame building, which stands on the farm of Mr. Anthony Pitzer, about two miles from where the original church was erected. The pulpit of the church has been occupied with a good degree of regularity ever since its organization; but its membership is, at present, rather limited. The following are the nmames of the preachers who succeeded Mr. Shinn until the year 18ro, as shown by the conference minutes: Revs. James Quinn and John Meeks, from 1804 to 1805; James Quinn and Joseph Williams, from 1805 to 1806; John Meeks and James Axley, from 1806 to 1807; Joseph Hays and James King, from 1807 to 1808; Ralph Lotspeitch and Isaac Quinn, from 1808 to 1809; Benjamin Lakin, John Manly and John Johnson, from 1809 to 1810.

More than sixty years ago the Revs. James B. Finley and C. Springer, the latter of whom is au: thority for this statement, held a quarterly meeting im this church. 'They reached it from the Muskingum region, by way of a blind bridle-path, which led them mostly through the woods, a little south of Flint ridge. It is probable that this meeting 'was held at the time of the dedication of the first church edifice, though not certain. Revs. Noah Fidler, Jesse Stoneman, and Levi Shinn, brother of Asa, were also pioneer preachers here.

The Christian Union church, a few years ago, organized a society within the bounds of this piomeer Methodist church, whose members were, for ithe most part, formerly Methodists, and members of the Hog Run church. The two societies occupy, jointly, the church edifice, and are of nearly equal strength in membership, neither, probably, mumbering more than a score, or thereabouts.

The Friendship, or, as it is commonly called, "The Hog Run Baptist church" (Old School) is one of the pioneer churches of Licking township, and of the county. It has had a career of more chan sixty-nine years, and has always exerted a desree of influence second to but few churches in the county. Its positive creed, the free, full, outspoken srofession of its doctrines, and the unreserved declaration of their belief by its adherents, their "eadiness to defend the faith they cherish, and the avowal and prompt support by arguments of their somewhat peculiar views as to faith and ecclesiasti- cal usages, have all ténded to attract public attention. 'The foregoing considerations, together with the wealth they represent, their numbers, their long history and identification with pioneer times, and other causes, have contributed to make this church a power - -a church vigorous, widely known, and of considerable influence. The membership of this church has generally been considerable, and crowds usually attend its ministrations. In 1818, sixty-two years ago, they erected a church which they con- It was of hewed logs, with a gallery running around three sides of it, and more than a third of a century ago Rev. George Debolt occupied its pulpit. In 1860 it was superceded by a good frame building, which is yet occupied. It is of good size and stands on or near the site of the original one, near Van Burenton, where the plank road crosses the northeasterly branch of Hog run. Rey. John W. Patterson was the first preacher in this church. The membership is now half a hundred or more.

The Friendship church was organized February 20, 1811, by Rev. Thomas Powell and Rev. John W. Patterson. The following persons were the original members: Samuel Meredith, John Simpson, Sarah Patterson, Elizabeth Meredith, Mary Sutton, John W. Patterson, Thomas Deweese, Ann Simpson, and Thomas Poweil. Rev. Mr. Patterson,was pastor of this church about a dozen years or more after its organization, and was succeeded by Rev. Eli Ashbrook, Elder Hill, Rev. George Debolt, Rev. Christopher Coffman, Rev. Joshua 3reese, Rey. John Parker, Rev. Matthew Brown, Rey. S. Meredith, Rev. C. McClellan, Rev. Zachariah 'Thomas, and Rey. Benjamin Lampton. 'This society also own a church near Linnville, erected in 1848.

The denominations known as the Methodists and United Brethren, have each a frame church at Jacksontown. 'They are not large, but may be regarded as prosperous. ing appointment on a circuit, and its pulpit is

The edifice occupied by the Methodist society is neat in appearance and respectable in proportions, and was erected forty years ago or more, 'That of the United Brethren was originally built by another denomination, and purchased and repaired by its present owners. The membership of the Methodist church is sixty or more, with a Sabbath-school of nearly a hundred pupils.

The number of members of the United Brethren church is not large, but the Sabbath-school is strong in numbers and in a flourishing condition.

The Fairmount Presbyterian church was organized March 24, 1834, by Rev. Jonathan Cable, assisted by Rev. W. Wylie and Rey. Jacob Little. The original members were Harvey R. Gilmore, Dr. Joseph Mathers, Samuel Dobbins, Charles Wallace, Mrs. Wallace, James Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton, Sarah Smith, Harriet Smith, William Bounds, Rebecca Cunningham and Lucy Gilmore. Rev. Jonathan Cable was the first pastor, and served from 1834 to 1838. were Rev. Ebenezer Buckingham, from 1838 to. 1839; C. N. Ransom, 1840 to 1846; N. C. Coffin, 1646.to 1852;,N. C.. McBride, 1852 to 1856; D. H. Coyner, 1856 to 1857; N. C. McBride, 1857 to 1869.

The membership is more than half a hundred, and a large and active Sabbath-school is connected with the church. The original elders were Dr. Mather, A. D. Caldwell, Charles Wallace and H. R. Gilmore.

The church building is of fair proportions, and was erected in 1835. It occupies a beautiful elevation (Fairmount,) on the eastern borders of the township, in full view of the National road, near Amsterdam, and in the vicinity of a large mound and numerous other works of the Mound Builders.

Mr. Richard Green, whose residence in this township dates back to 1802, is authority for the information that a Mr. Taylor taught the first school in the township, in the Green settlement, about the year 1806.

Educational interests have continued to receive a fair share of patronage and fostering care of the people of the township, which is now divided into eight: districts, most of them being provided with a good school-house. The Ohio canal, along the western boundary of the township, and the National road, running through it from east to west, both constructed about fifty years ago, the former by the State, and the latter by the general Government, very largely contributed to the convenience of the people of this township, and greatly promoted their material prosperity. The National road runs through Licking township from east to west. The work of its survey, location, grubbing, grading and macadamizing was accomplished during the interval between the years 1825 and 1835.

In one of the earlier years of this period, Mr. Thomas Harris, as proprietor of the land, laid out the village of Jacksontown and named it after General Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, who was the successful candidate in 1828, as well as in 1832, for the presidency. Mr. Harris was a zealous Jacksonian, especially in the campaign of 1828. soon became a post town of fair promise, but it

Avondale is merely a railroad station on the Reservoir, the only building being the "Avondale house." It is a pleasure resort for Newark people and others in this vicinity, who go there to fish during the fishing and boating season. It is a delightful place for a day's rest and recreation.

Isaac Stadden was the first justice of the peace in this township, while it was -yet a part of Fairfield county. He was elected in January, 1802, at an election held at the cabin of Elias Hughes, on the Bowling Green, Hughes being at the same time and place elected captain of militia. .John Warden became justice of the peace a year or two later; and Abraham Wright was next in order, and was in office in 1806, and probably some years earlier. Alexander Holden was among the early magistrates, and was frequently re-elected. Samuel Hupp, Elijah Sutton, John Green, Matthew Blacx, Herman Caffry, Eldad Cooley, Richard Stadden, John Brumback, Samuel Patterson, Isaac Green, James Pitzer, Thomas Ewing, James Stewart, Jesse R. Moore, B. D. Sanford, Martin Dinsmore, Thomas Germain, John T. Armstrong, John Woolard, Elias Padgett, F. M. Layton, and Oliver Davis were also among the justices of this township, serving pretty nearly in the order in which they are named.

Derrick Crusen, Samuel Meredith and_ others. Samuel Musselman, one of the pioneers of this township, is yet (1880) living, at the age of ninetyfive.