Madison Township

Madison Township

Edward Bratton was the first settler in Madison Township, and removed from there to Jefferson Township. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1799 removed with his father to the new territory northwest of the Ohio River, then opening for settlement. Crossing the river at Wheeling, the Brattons made their way westward to the forks of McMahon Creek, three miles below where the town of Belmont now stands, and at that time five miles west of any other settlement. From that place they removed in 1802 up the Zane Trac^, near what is known as the Miiner property. In the spring of 1803 or 1804 Joseph Wright emigrated from Ireland, and located near. the same place. In 1805 young Bratton married, and, taking the trail of General Broadhead's expedition in 1780, when that officer marched from Wheeling on the Coshocton campaign against the Indians, he followed it as far as where Antrim now stands. The trail entered the present site of that town near where tlie old Madison College building stood, and kept along the ridge until it passed the head of the ravine on the north side, when it struck off west along what is known as the old New Comerstown Road. Here Mr. Bratton left it and followed the Government road, out of which the brush liad been cut, from Steuben ville to Zane 's Crossing until he reached the present site of Winchester, where he pitched his tent, having no neighbors nearer than the Carpenters, near where Londonderry now stands, or Beattys, at the present site of Cambridge. There were, however, five Indian families residing in the neighborhood.

Two brothers, named Jim and Bill Lyons, had their huts up the bottom near where William Tedrick's house now stands. Joseph Sky lived at the mouth of Brushy Fork, near where Linn's Mill now stands. One, Doubtj', had a hut between Mrs. Culbertson's and Newman Lake's, and had two squaws; and one named Hunter also had a hut, but no squaw.

After Mr. Bratton had been living there some time, he learned that he had a new neighbor, who had moved in a few miles above, on the big creek. This was Martin Stull, a Pennsylvanian, who entered the land owned by Mrs. Culbertson, where he made an improvement, but died the next spring, when Mr. Bratton leased his entry and moved onto it.

For man}' years, and until a mill run by horsepower was built at Morristown, Mr. Bratton had his grinding done four miles northeast of St. Clairsville, a distance of thiri;y-four miles. There was no such thing as a store nearer than Wheeling, and he remembered when old Tommy Sarchet brought a handkerchief full of goods to Cambridge and opened the first store there. The first gristmill in the county was built by George Linn, and now stands on Salt Fork. It was then in Madison,' but is now in Jefferson Township. The first Justice of the Peace was Biindle Wickham. The first store was kept by George Wines at Winchester.

The first church was built at Winchester by the Methodists. The first tavern was built in Winchester by John Keepers. Antrim was laid out by Alexander Alexander in 1819. The first blacksmith of Antrim was William Rusk, who settled there in 1820. The first store was kept by Alexander, the second by Stockdale.

There are four religious societies in the township, as follows: the Baptist, two Methodist Episcopals,and the United Presbyterian. Rev. Mr. Riddle was the first preacher. He was an Associate Presbyterian minister, and came to this neighborhood in 1820.

The first church built was erected by the Seceders, and the second by the Associated Presbyterians. The first school was held in a log house moved from Londonderry Township to Antrim. The Tedricks and Bonnells laid out the town of Winchester.

When Madison Township was organized, there were four sections of land set apart by the state for public-school purposes, Nos. 1, 2, 9 and 10, situated in the nortiieast part of the township. These lands were first leased and later sold, and the proceeds of the sale went into the general school fund. This rule held good in other townships of the county.

Ur. Finley,an ambitious character, who had the cause of education at heart, made arrangements to start a scliool at Antrim soon after his location. Accordingly, in May, 1835 or 1836, he succeeded in enrolling the names of eight boys and young men in the vicinity as students. He used his cabin as a recitation-room, and thus commenced Madison College. The people enlisted in the cause, and the number of students increased rapidly, and it was resolved at a meeting of the citizens of the village that a united effort should be maide for the erection of a suitable building. Subscriptions were made in money, etc., and a site was chosen for the building at the east end of the village, on the most elevated ground roundabout. The building was completed, and the title conferred upon it was Madison College. It was organized under the laws of Ohio, and the Trustees appointed Dr. Finley President and Milton Greene Secretary. It prospered for many years, or until the breaking out of the war, when it became a financial wreck.

The United Presbttkrian Church Of Jefferson

Several members of the United Presbyterian Church residing between the United Presbyterian Church at North Salem and the United Presbyterian Church at Washington, being of the opinion that it would be for the advancement of the Lord's cause to have a congregation within their immediate bounds, petitioned tlie United Presbytery of Muskingum to grant an organization of a congregation under the name of Pleasant Hill. Accordingly, a grant for the organization of a congregation in said bounds was given by the Muskingum Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, at the session held at Londonderry, June 11,1867.

Rev. W. H. McFarland was appointed to preach and organize a congregation in said bounds. The congregation was organized September 29, 1867, by the election of Robert Kirkwood, Abraham Armstrong and George Alleniler as Ruling Elders; McLean Armstrong, Tliomas C. Kirkwood and William Scott as Deacons. September 29, 1867, Robert Kirkwood, who was formerly an ordained Elder in the United Presbyterian Church of Washington, was installed as Ruling Elder. McLean Armstrong, an ordained Deacon in the congregation of North Salem, was also installed. William Scotland Tliomas C. Kirkwood were ordained and installed as Deacons. Occasional supplies were received until January 1, 1869. Among the number sent were Revs. Joseph Walker, Samuel C. Marshall, W. H. McFarland, James Duncan, George W. Gowdv, A. H. Caldwell and Rufus Johnson.

The Lord's Supper was dispensed on the last Sabbath of June, 1868, by Rev. David Paul, of New Concord, Ohio, this being the first communion. It was held in McLean Armstrong's barn, about one mile west of the present site of the church. The officiating Elders on that occasion were those named above. Preaching was held at various places, .principally at McLean Armstrong's barn, previous to January 1, 1869. In the fall of 1867 steps were taken to erect a house of worship. Among those who took an active part in this good work were Messrs. Abraham Armstrong, Robert Kirk wood, McLean Armstrong, William Scott, John Cornell. John Watson, William McElhaney, George Allendcr, David Pattison and others.

Abraham Armstrong, John Watson and David Pattison were appointed a building committee, and contracted with L. P. Scott for the building of the house. The effort was a complete success, and the church was completed late in the autumn of 1868, at a cost of $1,453.70. Rev. William Johnson, formerly pastor of Washington and Salem congregations, now of Monroe, Iowa, preached the first sermon in the new church (while the house was yet unfinished), from the Song of Solomon, v: 2-7. On Sabbath, March 21, 1869, the first communion was held by Rev. James Duncan.

Rev. Rufus Johnson cared for the congregation from January 1, 1869, until April 8, 1873, he being ord.ained June 15, 1869. June 22, 1870, George /Vllendcr and Henry J.Martin were elected Ruling Elders. J. W. Armstrong and John A. Marling were elected Deacons. They were ordained July 13, 1870. Rev. Rufus Johnson was released from the pastorate April 8, 1873. From this time until August 2, 1874, supplies were sent to the congregation as follows: Revs. James Sankey, Joseph Boyd, James Duncan, Hugh Forsythe, J. C. Murch, David Thompson, John Patterson, James McCrea, J, D. Palmer, J. W. Martin and Hugh IMcVey- July 13, 1874, a call was moderated at Pleasant Hill by Rev. J. T.Campbell for Rev. J. W.Martin. The call was presented and accepted, and August 2, 1874, pastoral labors began, and the installation exercises took place November 17, 1874. The congregation was under his care for nearly eight years. From July 2, 1882, until January 1, 1883, supplies were sent to the congregation as follows: Revs. F. M. Spencer, James Duncan, J. W. Martin, R. S. McClenahan, J. H. Nash and J. L. Thompson. December 29, 1882, a call was moderated by Rev. J. W. Martin, which was made for Rev. J. H. Nash and J. L. Thompson. The call was accepted, and January 1, 1883, pastoral labors began. The installation exercises took place at East Union, August 21, 1883. In the spring of 1883 Robert Kirkwood, who had been a Ruling Elder in the congregation from its organization, and who was highly esteemed by the church and community, was cilled away by death. Thus the congregation suffered the loss of a leading member, and the session a wise counselor, one who had always taken a deep interest in the congregation from its organization. October 12, 1874, an election was held. Andrew Clark was elected Ruling Elder. Mr. Clark, having been ordained Elder in the congregation at Washington, was installed November 11, 1874. During this time two hundred and fortytwo persons have been received into membership in the congregation; many of these were received on examination and profession of their faith. The present membership is one hundred and twenty.