Madison Township

No Record Of The Officers Chosen At The Milizary Record

Anno Domini, 1800, found Jacob Swigert settled on Muskingum bottom lands; he built his cabin and cleared a field,.the first evidence of civilization within the borders of this township ; he, however, was not happy, and. sold out to J. S. Copeland, and he sold out to John Bainter, all within a short period, for Bainter moved to the high land - now occupied by J. G. Stump, in 1801. Wyllys Silliman entered the southwest quarter of section nineteen, on Symmes' Creek, but sold out to James Sprague, irom Nova Scotia, who settled upon it, in 1802. A Swiss, named Valentine. Shriver, settled on the northeast quarter of section twenty-three, in 1804, and John Stoner settled on the southeast quarter of the same section, about the same time, and_ planted an orchard, the first in the township. George Adams came from Fauquier county, and settled on the southeast quarter of section eighteen, in 1808: he built a hewed log house, the first in the territory, and some years later added a frame building to this, and this was the first frame house in this section. Charles Copeland settled near the mouth of Symmes' Creek, about the the same time, and, in 1817, he built a brick house, the first in this region; it is in a good state of preservation, and is occupied by his descendents.

Topographically, Medison township presents many advantages; the rich alluvial soil of extensive bottom lands, for it will be seen by consulting the map, that it is surrounded, so to speak, majority of the settlers to find good building sites. It is drained principally by the Muskingum river, and next by Symmes' Creek, which is the lar gest stream, of any importance, in the township. Water, however, is plenty, and good. Sandstone and limestone, for building, and lime, are found in the cliffs, and coal in convenient quantities. The forests have never been large, nor well cared for, yet all the varieties common to southeastern Ohio, flourish here.

ship, by order of the County Commissioners, dated July 2, 1819. It was originally bounded on the north by the county line, on the east, by Munroe and Salem townships, on the south, by Washington township, on the west, by the Muskingum - river. The Commissioners' Journal, of that date, contains the following: '' Beginning on the county line, on the line dividing the sixth range, then west' with the county line to the northeast corner of Jefferson township, then down the Muskingum river, and with meanders thereof, to the line dividing the southwest and northwest quarter of the second township in the seventh range, then east to the line dividing the sixth and seventh ranges, thence north with the said line to the southwest corner of the third township, in the sixth range, then east to the line dividing the sixth range, then northwest with sid line to the place of beginning." ated, and Madison reduced thereby to its present size. and boundaries. No record of the oflicers chosen, at the first election, has been found: those for 1880, are:

The elections were held at the school house, on Wm. Minner's land, chiefly, until 1848, when the township house was erected, and the elections have been held there since that time: house is 18x24.

The first death was that of Godfrey Bainter, He was buried in the woods, on his son John's farm, now owned by W. B. Carter. The following is the inscription on the tombstone,

''In memory of Godtrey Bainter, who departed this life May 18th, 1805, aged 60 years. This has become a cemetery and is the oldest in the township."

The first marriage, on record, is that of George Stoner and Elizabeth Shirer, in 1810; the next was Robert McConnell to Mary Adams, which occurred soon after.

Salt Works

In the year 1807, James Sprague, and his son Samuel, were pushing a canoe up the Muskingum river, and when just below the mouth of Wills Creek, they saw an Indian encampment, and, putting in to shore, an old Indian offered to show them a good salt spring for $1,400. Mr. Sprague did not accept the offer, and shortly after, the Indian showed it to Mr. Mapes for a rifle. Mr. M. began to make salt there. about 1810. The spring proved to be a good one, and these works have been operated for fifty years. In 1852, Joseph Tingle became their possessor, and repaired them, and put in a new engine, and operated them during the war, but

The first school house was probably built on the Jand of A. Struthers, not far trom the forks It is said that the first school was taught in the German language, and _ that the first English school teacher was a Mr. Decker, in 1811. The primitive schools of this township have so faded trom the memories of the oldest inhabitants, that nothing definite is known of them. The schools of the present day are taught in the English language, and there are six good frame school houses in the township: none graded, however.

In 1813, Alexander Struthers built a grist mill on the south branch of Symmes' Creek just above its forks, and in 1818, he added a saw mill. These mills were of incalculable benefit to the settlement, even extending beyond the tow nship boundaries ; and yet Mr. Struthers did not retain : he sold to J. N. Ingalls, and he, to William Mapes. The latter added one run ot buhrs. Mr. Mapes died! and Frederick Minner became proprietor tor a time. and was succeeded by Peter Varner. who operated the mills in 1866.

Valentine Shirer, and David Shirer, brothers, built a saw mill in 1833, on the north tork of Symmes'Creek,near the center of section twenty. | John Bench subsequently put in a pair of buhrs.

and thus combined saw and grist mills, which was a great convenience to the neighborhood. These mills passed into the ownership and management of William Gaumer and Thomas Pharis. -

In 1837, Thomas Pierce erected a grist mill at the State Dam, on the Muskingum River; he sold out to Jared Cone, and he sold to Charles Love, who sold to Elias Ellis, and he soldto Napoleon Reinaman, and during his management the mill was burned, and rebuilt, and sold to George C. Adams,who sold to William Bice,and he sold to A. G. Plummer, the present proprietor. This mill now contains three run of buhrs, in a building three stories high, and is in a successful business. ;

James John and James Gibbons, built a saw mill, on Symmes' Creek, just above the mouth, and finding the water supply insufficient, dug a race, and then added a grist mill; this mill was afterwards owned by Lloyd Dillon and D. F. Kinney. Mr. Kinney is the present proprietor.

A whiskey mill, or distillery, is said to have been in operation below the mouth of the Wakatomaka, on the Muskingum, in 1812; and that a '"'tramp mill" was attached, for crushing grain for the still; this still worm is not ''the worm that dieth not!"' It is not only sure to die, as all of them have died, but it seizes with remorseless death grip on every one of its friends. 'Think what a tiend it is to kill its friends! and how powerless it is to harm its enemies.

Furnace

About 1815, Wood and Eberts built a furnace, on Symmes' Creek,one-half mile from its mouth ; this was abandoned after three years, probably for want of sufficient means.

Wheelen Methodist Episcopal Church

This was the first church built in Madison tewnship. It was named for Martin Wheelen, because he donated the site where the church was built, a part of the southwest quarter of section nineteen, owned at present by George King.

The first class was composed of Martin Wheelen, and Christiana, his wife, George Wheelen, and Harriet, his wife, Wm. Wheelen, and Lusanna, his wife, John Wheelen, Jacob Wheelen, James Wheelen, Peter Wheelen, and Sarah Wheelen ; Charles R. Copeland, and Evalina, his wife, Elizabeth Van Horn, Jeremiah Van Horn, Sarah Van Horn, John: Doughty, and Elizabeth, his wife, Frederick Baum, and Mary, his wife, Matilda and Clarissa White. James Conkling, and Mary, his wife, were the two original members. James Conkling was leader.

In 1823, a hewed log church, twenty-four by thirty-six feet, was built, with two apartments for convenience, on communion days - for none were admitted to class meetings but communicants ( ?). The old house is standing, but there has been no preaching in it for near forty years.

'¢The Methodists had held meetings in Struther's school house, and also at Wheelen's, a few years. They re-erected the present church about 1818 or 1820; some say 1821. It wasraised and finished in September. These Methodists used to keep the "sinners," and the late Sabbath morning rising saints out of their love feasts. This house looks as though its east end had formerly been a pen in which to keep these lazy "'sheep," and the ''goats,"' till the love feast was over. In after years, this motley group of saints and sinners, saying, ''open unto us," became so unruly, and the other end of the house being too small, they sawed out the ''middle wall of partition,' and let them all grow together 'till the harvest," thus making the church as it now stands, a large one. To all who know this sacred spot, such names as Ellis, Van Horne, Hurdle, Wheelen, Doughty, Roe, Adams, Copeland, Stump,and a host of others are familiar. For these people, Bishop Morris preached more than half a century ago, and when he was so poorly supported that he had nothing whatever to pay toll at the gate, and when, to the shame of his parishioners, in Zanesville, the ''sinners'"" made him a donation of nearly one hundred dollars. At the same time, the late Charles Elliott, D.D., served this people with his fiery zeal. I believe it was he who sent to Mrs. Burnside, a few years ago, connection with these two, was that inveterate chicken eater, and zealous minister, S. R. Brockunier. It was doubtless he who said, ''a turkey is a very unhandy fowl; it is too much for one, but not quite enough for two."' These were followed by Taylor, Brown, Jacob and David Young, Christy, Carper, Swornstedt, Blue, and others. I heard my father say, that when that noble young Christy preached there, in 1826, that the small children would always listen to. him. In those ''good old days," a family like my grandfather's thought nothing of going six miles for Sunday morning, or week day meetings."

Perhaps no man that ever lived in Adams. township (and was a member at Wheelen's) was as popular, and:did as much good as Rev. Jesse: Roe, of the memorable Roe family. It is to be: regretted that the noble lives of such good and useful men, are not transmitted to paper in his-. toric form, and thus help future generations.

Jesse Roe was a local preacher, and used to. preach all over the hills and plains, in northern. Muskingum, eastern Guernsey, and southern Co-. shocton counties, and did itall gratis. He 'and Granville Moody, used to traverse these hills, theone preaching, and. the other exhorting. While Dr. Moody still lives, a light to the church and the world, Jesse Roe was called, atthe age of forty-one years, to his reward. Jesse -Roe died October 28, 1828, aged forty-one years and two months.

Prospect Methodist Protestant Church

Prospect Methodist Protestant Church was composed of Leonard Hurdle, Hugh King, Susanna Stover, Catharine Stover,-and John Walker, formerly of the Wheelen Methodist Episcopal Church, and was organized asa class in 1831, by Rev. Mr. Gilbreath. Leonard Hurdle was leader, and meetings were held at John Walker's house until 1838, when a log church, twenty-four by thirty-six, was erected, on land donated by Leonard Hurdle, which was situated on the northwest quarter of section twenty-one.

In June, 1861, John Stoner deeded a lot situated in the northwest quarter of section twentytwo - adjoining the old building - for a new church, and, in 1862, a frame building, thirtyfour by forty, was erected, and dedicated by Rev. J. C. Hazlett. ;

The following ministers of the Methodist Protestant Church have served on the Zanesville Circuit, since 1830: Z. Reagan, John Wilson, William McConnell, James Sanford, Phineas Inskip, Joel Dalby, Cornelius Woodruff, Thomas Foster, Nathaniel Linder, John Van Zant, Thos. Cullen, Samuel Gee, William Marshall, William Baldwin, John Baker, James Friece, William Dooling, Samuel. Lancaster, J. C. Hazlett, H. T. Lawson, Henry Gray, T. W. Case, Alfred Harrison, Thomas Orr, Israel Thrapp, Joseph Thrapp, William Turner, Ezekiel Hoagland, and Thomas Scott, the present incumbent.

Salem Methodist Protestant Church

The first class was organized in 1834, by Rev. William Marshall, and comprised the following members: John Mahan and wife, Elizabeth ; William Hurdle and wife, Mary; William Kinney and wife, Margaret; William Kinney, Jr., and wife, Anna; Thomas Kinney and wife, Elizabeth; John Bice and wife, Mary; John Kinney and wife, Susan; John W. Kinney, and David Kinney. The leader was John Mahan.

In 1838, a hewed log church was erected, one mile southeast of the.mouth of Simms' creek, on land donated by John Bice, for a church and graveyard. This building was twenty-four by thirty-six, and stood thirty years, when it was removed and a frame edifice reared on the site, thirty-four by forty-two.

The present Trustees are: James King and James M. Kinney; the Steward, Newton P. Shurtz. The Class Leader, John J. Kinney, was killed by lightning, August 25th, 1880. The same ministers have served this church who served the Prospect Methodist Protestant Church, from the date of organization.

Pleasant Hill Methodist Protestant Church

In 1835, Judge Daniel Stillwell, a Presbyterian, built a church on his land, in Madison township (the northeast quarter of section thirteen), primarily, for Presbyterian services, and, secondarily, for any other denomination, when not wanted by Presbyterians.

In 1868, Rev. William Baldwin organized a Methodist Protestant class, composed of William St. Clair and Catharine, his wife; Samuel St. Clair and Lovina, his wife; John Dunmead and Deborah, his wife; John W. Bice and Jane, his wife; Robert Layton and Sarah, his wife; D. D. Shirer and Cordelia, his wife ; Mary Ross, and Samuel Hammond and wife.

The first Episcopal services in this township were held in the Presbyterian (now Methodist. Protestant) Church, Pleasant Hill, by Rev. William A, Smallwood, of Zanesville, in the beginning of October, 1837.

At a meeting held at the house of John C. Stockton, October 22d, 1838, ''St. Matthew's Parish" was organized, with the following corporate members: Thomas Armstrong, Christopher Humphreys, fr., Royal Humphreys, Chas. Long, Johnson Carrigan, William Armstrong, William Humphreys, Littleton Adams, Robert Armstrong, Christopher Armstrong, Edward Adams, Alexander Adams, James Adams, Robert Shields, Christopher Humphreys, Sr., Christopher Burnside, Crawford Long, John C. Stockton, Charles Marquand, John Marquand, Sr., John Marquand, Jr., Royal Burnside, William Burnside, and Thomas Burnside.

On April 21st, 1839, a meeting of the Vestry was held,.and a site for a church selected, near the residence of, Christopher Humphreys, on land donated by Evan James. Thomas Armstrong, Charles Long, and Christopher Humphreys, were appointed a Building Committee.

On June 15th, 1839, the Committee contracted with Michael Milligan to build a frame church, twenty-seven by forty, for nine hundred dollars. August 4th, 1839, the corner-stone-was laid by Rey. W. A. Smallwood.

Cushman was rector about eighteen months, and he was succeeded by Rev. John Henshaw, from May to October, 1843. From this date, no regular services were held, until April, 1846, when Rev. George B. Sturgis became rector.

Rev. J. H. McElree, during 1861 and 1862; Rev. Henry A. Lewis, from July, 1865, to June 18, 1866, when he died; Rev. John Steel, April 1867, to September of that year, when he resigned; Rev. J. C. Jones, from July 1868, to September, 1871; Rev. Chester F. Adams, from October 1871, to July 1876; Rev. Pendleton, from July 1876, to June 1879; Rev. M. E. W. Hill, in June, 1880, and remainsin charge. The Senior Warden is Leslie Keyes ; Junior Warden, William Keyes. The number of members is fourteen.

*"St. Matthew's Parish" owns one hundred acres of land, in addition to the church lot. It was deeded by Christopher Armstrong in 1840, and is situated in the southeast quarter. of section eleven.

The First Store

The first regular store was kept by Copeland & Parmalee, about 1840. They sold cut to James McMahan, and he to Roe & Beatty, who 'did quite an extensive business, in the store and mill, which they rented. John Bowen, Henry Copeland, George C. Adams, D. F. Kinney and A. J. Hurdle succeeded Roe & Beatty. There is no store in Madison township at this time. Thomas Pierce kept a small store at his mill, and, by some, it is claimed that this was the first store in the township.

Otterbein Chapel, United Brethren Church

The Symmes' Creek class was formed in 1846, and composed of John Swoope and Hannah, his wife, Charles King and Catharine, his wife, John Miller and Francis, his wife, Rev. James Shreeves, and Nathaniel Smith. .

In 1861, Zachariah Adams deeded one acre of land to Peter Varner, John Swoope and James McKinney, Trustees; and, in 1864, a frame house, 25x32, was erected thereon, for religious purposes ; preaching having been done in school houses prior to this time. ti

The ministers who have served this society were: Rev's. Rice, Camden, McFarland, Lively, Cecil, Dilley, Sherman, Saltzman, Miller, Clark, Ehrhard, Roch, Moore, Athey, Stedman, Clark and Coleman. .

The present Trustees are: Chas. McCurney, John Miller, William Minner, Jacob Minner, and John Dickey. The Class Leaders are: John Miller and Seldon King. The Steward is William Minner.

The First Post Offices

The first Post Offices were established simultaneously at the mouth of Symmes' Creek, and _ at the residence of Thomas Armstrong. The latter was postmaster at the office having his name, and Charles Love was postmaster at the mouth of Symmes' Creek. This was in 1850. The office at Armstrong's was abandoned in 1863, and the one at the State Dam may soon be.

Stoneware

In 1869, William Minner built a pottery at the forks of Symmes' Creek, and has operated it successfully ever since; the clay being of good quality and abundant. From twelve to fifteen thousand gallons of ware are made there annually.

Jacob S. King and John T. Swoope, built a pottery on the Dresden road, one mile north of the mouth of Symmes' Creek, in 1879, and they are still operating it, with fair success.

Military Record

Volunteers from Madison township, in the One Hundred and Twenty-second O, V. I. - William Austin, George Adams, James Armstrong, Jesse Bales, Washington Baine, Wesley Baum, Israel Buckalew, Thomas Hittle, Samuel Hazen, George B. King, Wm. King, Daniel Kinney, Isaiah Kinney (killed,) James King, Benjamin King, Harman King, Chas.-Minner, William Steller, Salathiel Tudor, Riley Tudor, Peter LePage, William Miller, James McBurney, John A. Norman, John Noel, Joseph Parkinson, Isaiah Poorman. ; worthy a place in the history of this township, the historian believes to be true, and when any one cognizant of them regrets they are not here narrated, let him place the censure, if any, where it belongs, on the stolid reticence of those who, when interviewed, refrained from communicating them. The foregoing data has been carefully detailed, and, when the nature of the information permitted, it has been amplified, but not exaggerated. In closing, the writer would pay a tribute to the brave heroes who bore arms for their country, and say with the poet:

" He is the freeman, whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves beside. There's not a chain That hellish foes, confederate for his harm, Can wind around him, but he casts it off With as much ease as Samson his green withes. He looks abroad into the varied field Of Nature ; and, though poor, perhaps, compared With those whose mansions glitter in his sight, Calls the delightful scenery all his own."