Madison Township

Madison Township

was named for James Madison, the fourth President. It was originally part of Union and Seal Townships. In 1810, Madison was one of the ten Townships of the County. March 2, 1840; Sections 13 and 14 were taken from Jefferson Township and attached to Madison. See Commissioners' Journal of that date, page 231.

Madison Township is very hilly, but it has a large area of level high land extending from Pike County nearly to Harrison Township on a line south from California, Pike County. This region known as "The Flats,'' averages three miles wide and contains good farm lands. West of this is the Rocky Fork Valley separated from the "Flats" by a range of low hills. This valley is not wide but contains some very fertile land. To the east of the "Flats" are several ranges of hills, some high ones, which extend to the valley of Brushy Fork, or the largest branch of the Little Scioto. Here also are first rate farm lands. Although more than half of Madison is hilly, at least seven-eights of it are tillable and productive land. Most of the hills can be cultivated.

Madison Township was settled as early as 1797, on Rocky and Brushy forks of Little Scioto river. The first persons born in the Township of whom a record has been preserved were Thomas Bennett born June, 1800 and William Bennett born July, 1802. Some of the oldest settlers are: John, Thaddeus, Robert and Caleb Bennett, Jacob and Joseph Rickey, Edward Dawson, Absalom Pyles, Daniel Dodge, Aaron Miller, Joseph, Benjamin and Ephriam Rockwell, Peter Lagore, Moses Mault, George Adams, George and William Dever. Moses Barnabus, Solomon, Aaron and Jesse Monroe and Daniel McKinney. Of the early settlers, but two are living: Ephriam Rickey, aged 82 and L. D. McKinney, aged 86. The Bennets were about the first settlers, some were

The exact area of Madison Township is 32,322 acres. The value of its real estate was $231,990, and its personal property was $82,684 making a total valuation of $314,674.

Madison is a purely agricultural Township. It has no factories nor furnaces. It has had eight mills, two of which still stand but they are almost abandoned. The following are noted:

In 1824, John Higgins built a grist mill on the farm of John Wilson. It was the only horse power mill in the Township. He built it by subscriptions of work and when the timber was all ready the mill-wright, E. B. Marritt, agreed to start the mill for a young horse which Mr. Higgins owned. It ran until 1839.

In 1831, Ebenezer Corwin built a saw and grist mill on Rocky Fork, near what is called the Dodge Corners. Corwin ran it six years and sold it to Lyons Dodge. Dodge ran it five years and the creek washed around the dam and the mill was abandoned.

Wallace Mill is in the southeast corner of the Township on Rocky Fork, a branch of Little Scioto river. It was built in 1840, by John White and afterwards became the property of Isaac Wheeler who sold it to William Wheeler. In 1870, Samuel Wallace bought the mill, hence its name. It is now the property of Joseph Stockham. As a flour mill its day of usefulness is past.

Madison Baptist Church was the first in the Township. It was founded in 1825 by Thaddeus Bennett. Among the first members were Thaddeus Bennett and wife, William Crawford and wife, Jacob Rickey and wife. The first services were held in private houses, but in 1836 a log church was built. In 1868, this was replaced by a frame church which was destroyed by fire ten years later. A new church was built about 1890 and is still standing. The present membership is about 35. No regular minister is employed. The last services were conducted by Rev. J. B. Carter, of Portsmouth. The Sunday School numbers about 40.

Fairview Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1880. It has a membership of about 75. The church stands northwest of the Noble school house. The minister is Rev. William Rissinger. The Sunday School has about 50 pupils.

The United Brethren Church was organized in 1867. A church was built which stood nearly 20 years. A new and better church was built about 1887 which still stands.

Harrison Union Church. In 1874, the Free-Will Baptist and the United Brethren Societies built a church near the southern line of Madison Township on the Dever pike about 2 miles east of Harrisonville. This church was free for all denominations, when not used by the Free-Will Baptists, and the United Brethren. The United Brethren Society was organized by Rev. Jesse Mc- Cann. The Free-Will Baptist Society was organized by Samuel Erwin and wife.

Hamilton Free-Will Baptist Church is near the eastern edge of the Township. The church was organized and the building completed in 1881. It had thirty members at organization. The pastor is Rev. Alva Crabtree.

White Gravel United Brethren Church was organized at Mt. Carmel in 1860. The building stood near the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. It was destroyed by fire in 1863. The present building at White Gravel was erected about 1869. The pastor is ReV. Hoffman.

The officers of Madison Township for the year 1902 are: Treasurer, Thomas M. Kent; Clerk, J. M. Mohat; Assessor, John Alexander; Justices of the Peace, John L. Samson and J. W. Jackson; Trustees, J. B. Bennett, Allen Stockham and Samson Sherer; Constable, J H. Dewey.

The schools of Madison Township have made a marked improvement in the past year which is due to the earnest efforts of the Madison Township Teacher's Association and the co-operation of the Board of Education. Although the wages are small, the, schools are among the best of Scioto County. The value of her school property is about $6,000.

Kronk Cemetery on Jacob Kronk's farm and enclosing about 1 acre, is not one of the oldest but one of the best kept of all the Madison Township burial grounds. It is not a family cemetery, but is used by the public, although not a Township cemetery.

Martin's Cemetery is in the western part of the Township near James S. Rickey's farm. It contains some very old graves, but the oldest legible record is "James S. Rockwell, died February 15, 1835, aged 71 years, 11 months, 9 days." It covers about one acre of land and is open to the public, but is not controlled by the Township.

The Carmel Cemetery is near Mt. Carmel school house and contains about one acre. The following is the oldest inscription: George W. Swaim, died March 9, 1862, aged 45 years, 5 months and 16 days.

Bennett's Cemetery is situated 1-4 mile south of Fairview Church, and contains about 3-4 of an acre. The following is the oldest inscription: Ellinor Bennett, died January 26, 1834, in her 61st year.

Bennett's Cemetery is situated 1-4 mile northeast of Harrisonville, on the farm of Thomas Bennett. It contains about 3-4 of an acre. The oldest inscription is: John Bennett, died June 4, 1845, in the 79th year of his age.

Glendale Cemetery contains about 1 1-2 acres in the southwest corner of the Township. It is the old Presbyterian Churchyard. The oldest grave is that of Robert Anderson, Senior, who died June 17, 1855, at the age of 83.

The Adams Cemetery on the farm of William Adams in the northwest corner of the Township contains about 1-2 acre. The oldest inscription is: Catherine, wife of Nathan Gilliland, died January 2, 1850, aged 24 years, 7 months and 7 days.

Squires Cemetery located one mile north of Harrisonville, contains 5 acres. The following are some of the inscriptions: M. Bennett, died 1815, at the age of 83, 11 children, 68 grandchildren, and 71 great-grandchildren. William Stockham, died 1815, at the age of 67 years. Hon. Samuel Crull born July 24, 1780, died October 3, 1854. Daniel McKinney, born May 17,