Manchester Township (part 1 of 2)

Manchester Township

AVf.st M.v n Chester, - Which is more properly, only an addition to the original town, was laid out by John Donaldson, Stephen W. Compton and G. W. Donaldson,, as proprietors, September 16, 1899. It contains 48 lots, extending west from Pike street, fronting on the rivet and extending back to Main street.

Another addition, called the first addition to West Manchester. was made by John Donaldson, May 9, 1849. It contains 23 lots lies west of Pike and north of Main street - opposite, and north of the eastern portion of West Manchester.

Vatk's Addition'. - Was made May 16,-1S48, contained 16 lots, lies immediately cast of Pike street - north of the Western portion of the old town. John Yates, proprietor. It was made from out -lot No. G. in Massic's original plat.

Beal Estate Imi'KOvemext Company's Addition. - This company bought up as many of the original four acre* out-lots, that Gen. Massie laid out, as it could, then cut them up into small lots, and by its trustees, Matthew McColm, John Brookovcr, A. B. Ellison, D. W. Slableton, and William Stevenson, as proprietors. laid out an addition, known by the above name.

There were several of these out-lots, that they were unable to buy, which leave vacant squares promiscuously scattered through this part of the town.

Early Houses

The first settlers, as before stated, located within the stockade, and their houses were only a few rude cabins. Fear of the Indians prevented them improving the lands adjoining on the outside of the fort. The late Andrew Ellison, who was captured in 1793, while working on his out-lot adjoining the stockade, attests the danger. They therefore cleared off the lower of the three Islands, which from its isolated position - rendered it a place of greater security. Even with its advantages of situation, guards were kept to watch the approach of any enemy that might attempt to cross over to the Island. Fortunately the unsurpass- I fi utility of the soil produced sufficient abundance to supply the i' garrison with all the necessaries of life. But few additions made to the population or business of Manchester, or settlcnrido in the country, back from the river, until the ernshh'lent of the Indians by Gen. Wayne, in 1794. After the <»f Greenville, which relieved the settlements from nppreii >io n of further trouble from them, settlements began to be made in the interior portions of the county. Manchester did not improve very rapidly for some years.

Early Rusiness Of Manchester

The names of the early business men or the dates of their eslablid.nicnts have not been preserved. The old landmarks have nro'llv disappeared, as well as the early buildings and houses which u - i destroyed by the great fire c: i860, so that only a few Iraginmiian n -mains of its early history can now be collected,.

First Store

\\\i> started hv Peter Cooley, at an cirl, date. Il was kept in a hewed log building that was weather-hoarded. This h >usc^ wu< >iluab'd near lie old stockade on the laud now ovmd by Hammond Tolle.

The First Tavern

Was kept by a Mr. McGatc, but when he started, or how long he continued it, cannot now be ascertained. It was perhaps as early as 1804 or 5. Other similar institutions no doubt followed, for taverns wore more numerous in early years ^hnn any other class of business houses.

First Mills

On account of danger from the Indians, the early settlers, for a few years did not venture out far enough from the stockade, to avail themselves of the facilities of the streams for building mills.

The first machinery of the kind was a hand mill put up within the stockade. With this primitive mill was ground most of the breadstuff used by the inhabitants at first. The burrs used in it still remain in the village, and arc now utilized in making the pavement for the sidewalk at the upper end of Second street.

How little do these descendants appreciate the labors of our faithful and patient forefathers, who have borne the burden and heat of the day of trial ; who have removed every obstacle from our path, and left every laudable object of ambition within our reach, that they thus dcscera'tc these mementoes of their early but useful labors?

Manchester being the third place settled in Ohio makes its early history a subject of peculiar interest, not only to the citizens of Adams county, but of the whole nation. It is interesting, in reading the history of nations, cities or communities, to be able to begin at the starting point, with the name of the first settler, the time when he made it, the exact spot where he located, the kind of a cabin or hut in which he first dwelt, then in like manner to trace the business houses and their general history down. Many of our larger cities, arc to-day, able to do this, and it is to be regretted that Manchester, around which centers so much of historic interest to the student of histoiy, as well as to the citizen and general reader, is unable to do the same. At least the writer, after all bis researches, has not been able to establish these points with that definite certainty lie so much desired. Ho finds but few written records to guide him with their unerring certainty, while the traditions that arc preserved, arc dim, and more or less contradictory. His conclusions arc drawn, many times, inferentially, as given to the rende \ who is left to judge of their correctness.

The First House

The manner in which the first settlement was made, by a colony, the inference that naturally arises, under the circumstances and the situation in which they were placed, is that their efforts were united, as a single individual, or family, that worked for the common good of all - with no separate individual interest in the matter.

There is little doubt, as their first primary object was protection against outside dangers, particularly the savages that prowled through all the forests round, that their bouses were the most primitive kind of cabins, constructed hastily, as they must have been. Then these cabins were, for still better protection, as hurridly enclosed by a stockade of pickets. Under the pressue of the hurry, not knowing at what moment the Indians might pounce upon them, there was no thought of first, or second or last house, or note or memory of it left.

Once enclosed with this stockade, the inmates must still have had to exercise the greatest vigialnce against the sudden attacks of the savages who ljrkcd in the adjnceht forest ready by day or night to pick up any of the inmates that might venture a few rods outside its barricades as was experienced by the capture of Ellison. who, in the spring of 1793, was taken almost under the very walls of the fort, as lie ventured outside in the early morning.

As the savages maintained their unabated hostility until they were defeated by Gen. Wayne, in 1791, it is most likely there were no bouses built outside the fort until after that event.

James McGovncy says his father came to Manchester in 1795, and there were then four or five houses in the town, occupied by the following families or men :

Duncan McArthur in a let - «*r in 1796 or '97 speaki ng of the rapidity with which the town wn- then growing up, says; "We now have forty buildings, many of them of hewed logs, sotne of tlirin with shingle roofs. "

First Iirick House

The first brick hoti<c in Muiclnslcr - in fuel the first one in .idams county, nud the third one in Ohio, was built by John Ellison, in 1807. It stood near the river, somewhere above the St. Charles Hotel, and was the subject of general conversation as well as the admiration of her citizens - perhaps Hie envy of some whose means did not permit 1 licm to make so aristocratic a display. Mr. Ellison himself, who was an Irishman, wn> so delighted with his beautiful house, that he " paddled " his canoe over the river and climbed otic, of the highest. hills gu the Kenhu ky side, to see how it looked at a distance 1't'om such a commanding |N»sition. He was perfectly enchanted with its appearance, lie returned home, and eagerly accosting his wife as lie met her, he exclaimed. "Mary! it looks more like heaven than earth! "

But alas, Mr. Ellison and his beloved Mary, are both now sleeping their last long sleep, in narrow houses of clay, their bones mouldering into du9t, while their beautiful liouso of brick, that once caused their hearts to throb with 6tich emotions of delight and happiness, lias fallen beneath the destroying finincs and it too, lias returned to its elemental dust - an impressive lesson upon the transitory ami fleeting happiness, of all the joys that earth affords.

First Mill

The first mill - perhaps in the county, was built by General Massie, on Island creek, two miles from town, and was what i called a "Tub Mill." A year or so afterward another one wa built, about two hundred yards above the first one. This was a pretty good mill, and ground both wheat and corn, and was considered quite an institution. It is said that when grinding was to be done, the men would arm and go in a company, and while the grinding was being done, part of them would stand out ns pickets or guards, to watch the approach of Indians. There was a saw mill in connection with this mill, but botli have long since disappeared.

First Carding Mill

About 1893. Israel Donaldson, started the first carding mill ever built in the county. It was first started on Front street, S. E. corner of Washington street, in a building owned and occupied by John Fisher, a grain and produce dealer, as a warehouse. Mr. Donaldson afterwards built a new house, on t lie corner cast of Washington street, on tiic opposite side, to which he moved his carding machinery. The lower story was for ail oil mill, the upper one was used for carding. The oil mill was only run a few years ; the carding ceased in 1832 or '33.

An Act

Sec. 1. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio , That so much of the township of Sprigg, in the county of Adams, ft9 is included within the following boundaries, towit: Beginning at the southeast corner of Johu Donaldson's land, on the Ohio river; thence with his line northwardly about one hundred poles, to Isaac's creek ; thence up said creek to the northwest corner of the original survey and plat of the town of Manchester; thence witli the north line of said town plat castwardlv. to the west lino of Thomas W. Means' land; thcncc with said Means' line southwardly, to the Ohio river; thcncc down the river with the southerly boundary of the State of Ohio, to the beginning, be, and the same is hereby declared to bo a town corporate, by the name of Manchester, and by that name shall be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, and as such shall have ali the privileges and be subject to all the limitations, provisions and restrictions of the " Act for the regulation of incorporated towns, "- passed February 16, 1839, and the acts amend atory thereto.

Sect. 2. That the town council of said town, in additi on i« t lie powers and privileges granted and conferred by the --act lb - the regulation of incorporated towns" as aforesaid, shall hav power and authority to make, keep in repair and regulate all pub lie landings, grades and wharves, and wharf-boats belonging isnid town; and to fix ahd regulate the price of landing ami wharfage thereto; to require by ordinance the owner or ownerof any lot, or part9 of lots, to pave the side walks, or to alter amend and keep the same in repair in front of their respective lot or lots, or parts of lots, upon any street within said town, and of such width and in conformity with such grade the said council shall direct.

Sec. 3. That said town shall be a road district, and the labor required by law, to be performed by the inhabitants thereof upon the public roads, and also any tax which may be levied or assessed by, or under the authority of the laws of this State, within the corporate limits of said town, shall be performed and expended upon the streets, alleys highways within the said town, in such manner mid under such regulations as the town council shall direct.

Abraham Perry was the first Mayor, and Jos. Shrivcr, first Marshal. At that timo there wore probably not more than a half* dozen 'business bouses within the corporation. Manchester now has a population of 1486, withHhree churches, six school dc'paYtmcnts, one bank, one printing office, one telegraph office, three dry goods houses, three clothing housesr eight grocery stores, two drug stores, one hoot ami shoe house, two boot and shoe, manufacturers, four millinery stores, two. merchant tailors, folir physicians, four lawyers, one stove and' tin stdi-c, one sewing machine establishment, two furniture stores, two undertakers, two saddlers, l hreq photographic galleries, two warehouses, three jew olio planing mill me s:nv mill, I wo flouring mill*, one furniiinv I;!, lory, hv.) potteries. two marble works, four cooper >\\nV<. our chair factory, two hotels, one bakery, two confect ionaiwo liven stables, tour blacksmith simps, one broom fuct lire two wagon shops, three barber shops, one whart boat, one ferryboat, and lastly, but not least, three saloons.

Manchester is the principal business place in Adams county. It is the main shipping point, to which the tanners take their stock and produce ip sell, which gives life and spirit to the business of the place, < -

The Manchester grain dealers make an annual purchase of one hundred and fifty thousand bushels. The yearly shipment of tobacco from that point exceeds five hundred thousand pounds. A leading dry goods house sells $$0,000 worth a year. Last year the stock dealers shipped twelve thousand hogs. One ot the druggists sold to the amount of $12,000, while the grocery sales amounted to $70,000, and a saddler sold $ In, 000. rl he sales of stoves and tinware arc $15,000. and hoots and shoes $15,000 annually.

Post Office Isis

The first bank in Manchester, was started in 1857. by John Ellison, as a private institution, which he conducted until the establishment of the present National Bank, in June, 1872.

The capital stock of the present National Bank, is $50,000, in .s<. arcs of $100 each. J. P. Ellison, Cashier; W. A. Blair, President ; L. Pierce, Vice President.

Dry Goods Stores W. L. Vance

These splendid mills were built by Ashenhust & Foster, in 1800, commencing to grind September 0, The building is a substantial frame. 40x00, three and a half stories high, furnished with * 1 * modern improvements in machinery, with a 40 horse 1""\ 1 '- built at a total cost of $12,000.

Ashenhust & Foster run it until March, 1871, when Mr. Ashculmst' son, John Franklin, bought out Foster, and it was run by .\-hcnliu*t Son, until December 0, 1875, when Alexander Roush bought one-tburth interest in the establishment, since which, it has been run under the name of Ashenhust, Roush Sc Co.

\\ . Donaldson, sons of Israel Donaldson The progress of the work was interrupted by the death of G. W, Donaldson, who lost hi* life while trying to remove the goods from the burning house ct hi- brother John. It was then leased to Walter Scott, who completed it. put in the machinery and run it two years, when Ellison Sc McColm, bought, it. They run it three years and sold to Bcutly. After passing through several hands it was finally bought, in 1877, by Ebcnczcr Rice Sc fcjou, the present proprietors who do a general merchant flouring business. It. lias a capacity of forty barrels a day.

Nursery

Mr. Biggar lias been engaged all bis life in t lie nursery business, raising and selling fruit, and ornamental trees of all kinds, lie commenced business on bis own account, across the river in Kentucky, in 1855, removed to Manchester in 1877, where he has the most extensive nursery in the country.

John Park Ks

This establishment was started by Parkes & Chamberlain in May 1846. It was carried on twenty-two years under this firm, when Mi*. Chamberlain retired, Mr. Parkes becoming sole proprietor, erected the buildings he now occupies, in which he has continued to the present time, making thirty-three years in all, that lie has followed the business. lie has experienced the fact that steady perseverance will build up any legitimate business. When be commenced, lie could make, alone, more ware than he could sell. After twelve years, ten men cannot manufacture enough to supply the demand.

Furniture

Was born in Adams county, in 1827 ; lias been engaged in the furniture trade since 1847. lie has been a leading dealer in the business for tbirtv-two years, and lias made, it a success. lie lias been an active, energetic man. interested in all public enterprises.

This house was commenced in 1838, by John McNarv, who died before its completion. It remained in an unfinished condition for ten years, then passed into the hands of Charles Stevenson, who completed it and started a tavern in it, which lie carried on for some years, then sold to Nathan Ellis. Daniel Denning was the next proprietor. lie sold to William Walker. Walker entered the army and died of small pox in 1832, at Louisville, Kentucky. While Walker was in the army, the bouse was run bv his son-in-law, Jesse Kimball. After Walker's death David Charles became the owner and has since continued it as a hotel.

The first building was a frame bouse which was burnt down when completed. The proprietor, M. V. Cropper, then (1858) built a brick on the same foundation. Mr. Cropper afterwards sold to Samuel Wood and G. W. Sample, who conducted the hotel untl 1862, when Robert McDaid became proprietor, since whose death it has been run by the widow and John McDaid.

Manufacturers of lumber, lath, lining, tobacco hogsheads, See. ; also, buyers of walnut, hemlock and poplar lumber. All kinds of seasoned lumber for building purposes, sawed to order.

Lodge No. 317 Of F. And A. M. Of Manchester

This Lodge was organized May 16, 1859, by dispensation. Officers appointed by the It. W. Grand Master, May 16, 1850: Ilonry Y. Coppel, Worshipful Master ; Benjamin Bowman, Senior Warden ; .James Brittingbam, .Junior Warden.

Original Members

A. T. Wikofl', W. B. Cole, It. A. Stephenson, A. P. Pownall, Harrison, Warner £> C'. Pollard, It. S. Daily, Pbomas P. Foster, J. P. 141001111100' G. G. Games, John Sparks, John M. Freeman, M. S. Jeffries, It. M. Owens, Thomas M. Games, Nathaniel Massie.

Offices Under The Dispensation Officers Elected Nov. 30, 1871

Charter granted by Grand Lodge of Ohio. July 19, 1849, to David Greenlee, John Ilarsha, Joseph Ilayslip, William M. Meek, and Francis Shinn, and was instituted by Grand Master, Alexander E. Glenn, October 13,. 1849.

The Lodge continued in good standing until July 20, 1855, during which time there were admitted by card and initiation, thirty members. There were withdrawn by card, twelve; died, three ; expelled, one; leaving at the time of its removal to Manchester nineteen members.

For some cause not known to the writer, the Grand Lod^e, at its February session, 1856, resolved to remove the Dc Kalb Lodge from West Union to Manchester.

In accordance witli this resolution, it was instituted at Manchester, by George B. Baily, special D. D. G. M., July 31, 1856. with nineteen members, removed from West Union.

This Lodge is in good financial condition, having considerable of money loaned and in the hands of the Treasurer. It also owns a beautiful Odd Fellows Cemetery, valued at $1,000.

Charter granted May 3, 1876, by the Grand Encampment of Ohio. The Lodge was instituted June 13, 1S76, by W. R. Marshall, Grand Patriarch of Ohio. The charter members were George Lowery, D. R. Shriver, J. W. Ebrite, I. K. Russell, Join McCutcheon, Washburn Trenary, L. L. Conner, J. W. Evlar. .1 II. Stevenson, S. J. Lawwill, J. W. Bunn, Washington Kimbl

Present Condition Present Officers

The first settlers of Manchester were not unmindful of the fact that education is a necessary concomitant of civilization, and thus we find them taking means immediately after founding the village, to secure its benefits for their posterity.

The first building for school purposes was erected about (he venr 1794, near the southeast corner of the old cemetery lot, sonic distance from where the Presbyterian church* now stands. It was truly a primitive structure, lmili of log-, having one door and two windows. The latter were made by cutting out a log from ciu'li Hide of (lie building, limn It .ivlll- two long, narrow spaces, uno of which was filled with a row of eight by ten glass, and tho ollici with oiled paper. The flre-placu occupied the greater portion of one end of the house and was of sufficient capacity to admit logs of wood live or six .peet iu length. Tho floor was composed of puncheons, so were iho seats, also, by putting in legs of sufficient length ; (backs were not in use.) It is impossible to ascertain who was the first lo wield the ferule in this log seminary, but it is not improbable that .sracl Donaldson was one of the earliest instructors of tho youth of our forest primoval. The names of but few of the teachers of tho log school house period aro known, and comparatively little is know:, touching the charaotcr of the instruction given ; but the fact is pretty well established, that tho instructors of this time had an abiding faith in tho virtue of the hickory sprout as a mental stimulus, as well as an instrument of moral regeneration. Indeed it would seem that corporal punishment was regarded as a kind of necessary branch of physical education by our worthy ancestors. Some teachers of this- period taught what were called "loud schools " in which all study and communication were carried on aloud. The din and confusion thus caused, especially by the " big-boys" studying the spelling lesson, can be better imagined than described. The text books of the time include Webster's Spelling Book, the English Header, and Pike's Arithmetic, which was used to "cipher " in, generally, so far as the "rule of three. " About the year 1818, it seems that Murray's Elements of English Grammar, a small volume, was studied by a few of the more ambitious pupils. There is no evidence that Geography was ever taught in the old log building.

Ear be it from the purpose of the writer to cast the least obloquy upon the labors ©f our pioneer teachers. They were, many of them, nature's* noblemen; they wrought as best they could; and their works do follow them.

Wm. Dobbins taught the first term in the log school house. It is related of him, that on going to school one morning he found himself "barred out, " in common parlance , on account of his failure to treat the pupils to candies, etc., but with the aid of a rail Mr. Dobbins soon effected an entrance, and then proceeded to thrust the refractory boys into the open air through the paper window before mentioned. After having restored order he supplied them with the coveted sweetmeats. About the year 1828, the log school house was replaced by a small brick building, which, although an improvement on its predecessor, was by no means an imposing specimen of architecture. The furniture consisted of a few long desks adjoining the walls, for the use of the larger pupils, while the seats for the smaller childreu were made of rouph slabs, and were without backs. James Smith, afterward a member of the Ohio Legislature, taught the first term in the new buildiug. He was succeeded by J. T. Crapsey, who in turn wa3 followed by Wm. Robe, afterward a noted surveyor. The following named persons a:*e said to have taught in Manchester while this building was in use: Jane Dickenson, Jane Williamson, Andrew Crawford, George Burgess, Robert Buck, David Pennywitt, John Pennywitt, Edward Burbage. Thomas Havslip, It. R. Case, Andrew Mannen, William McCalla, also, a man named Clark, another by the name of Parker Douglass. There were many others, but their names are unknown. Mr. McCalla was connected with the schools of Manchester for several cousecutive years, and is spoken of in kindly terms by his former pupils as a faithful and efficient teacher. He certainly labored under great disadvantages, since it is said that he sometimes had from eighty to one hundred pupils under his immediate tuition at the same time, variously advanced from the lisping abecedarian to the ambitious student of surveyiug. To give a detailed account of the growth and character of the schools during the period of the little brick house is beyond the province of this sketch, but a few points will be briefly noticed. Many of the teachers of that time were by nature endowed with superior intellectual faculties, which were reasonably Well developed by culture, yet their labors were not crowned with that degree of success which their untiring Zealand unselfish motives deserved. Teachers seldom remained more than a single term in a place at that time, and it is presumed that Manchester is no exception to the rule, but changed teachers so often that any systemic ;^d plan of school work was rendered impossible. As in the former period, so in thi9, the rod seems to have occupied a conspicuous place in the enforcement of discipline. Jt was used indiscriminecly, without regard to age or sex, as the ffeuse seemed to deraarn Yet with all this, the discipline was far from being good. M^ny amusing anecdote9< rare told concerning the pranks of the .. ischievous youths of tljat time ; but no doubt the cause was a lack of the mr support of j public opiuion, rather than the fault of the teacher Y«*. be admitted that some of these teachers were f ,*es m the little money it brought them ; others because t w -i .j little account iu this or any other capacity that they ?»*>uld be t far almost nothing.

The only official record of this period is from tK / _ «- 1813 to 1856, its close. The record of the meeting of the Bo. . Education, of which John Parks was Chairman and A. 1 . ..jag, Clerk, October 17, 1853, shows that it was then decided to have " two to^tole*' or departments in the district after said date. ' e record of the first mooting for 1854, shows that an order was drawn on tho Tronsurcr in favor of Wm. McCalla lor soventy-oight dol- , Inrs for services rendered as teacher during a period of threo months. About Up*, same time it is shown that the whole number of pupils in tho school studying arithmetic, was twenty-one; j number studying geogruphy, was sixteen ; number studying j grammar, seven. No higher branches were taught, at least according to tho records. The entlro enrollment of youths of school age in the district at this time was two hundred and eighty-threo. Tho record of tho Board meeting of Fel>. 28, 1854, shows that I. J. Jones and others conveyed to the School Board, in - consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, one aero from the west end of out-lot number eighteen. At the meeting of May 8, 1854, it was decided to levy a tax of eight hundred dollars for tho erection of a new school house. On tho 4th of Mav, 1855, the Board entered into a contract with various parties to do the stone work, brick work, and carpenter work of a new school house, to be fifty feet long, twenty-four feet wide, and the lower story to be eleven feet high and the upp:r to be ten feet high. It appears that said building was completed and received from the contractors some time during the latter part of the year 1855, or the beginning of the year following. At a meeting of the Board of Education, June 16. 1856, of which J. B. Evans was Chairman, and Wm. Stevenson, Clerk, the following resolution was adopted: *- That the school be suspended at the end of the present session, and that measures to be taken to procure a first rate teacher , to head the school, to commence with the fall term. " At a meeting June 23, 1856, orders were issued on the Treasurer in favor of A. J. Mannen, A. W. Ilempleman and Miss L. Gates, the teachers who closed the period of the little brick building.

As a preliminary step toward a reorganization of the schools, the following notice was given to the citizens of Manchester, Aug. 11, 1856: "The qualified voters of Manchester Special School District, will convene at the school house in said district, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 1856. at 6 o'clock P. M., and then and there take into consideration the propriety of establishing a graded or Union School in said district, aud voting on the same as authorized by an "act" passed Feb. 1, 1849, for the better regulation of schools in cities, towns and villages. Signed by D. M. McConaughy, J. N. Wood, S. R. Wood, A. M. Lang, J. N. Brittingham, James Mott and L. Pierce.

On the day specified in the notice a meeting was hold, and a vote taken, which resulted in favor of the proposed change by a majority of tliirtv-nine votes. After due notice, an election was held Sept. 6, 1856, to choose six directors, as provided by the law of 1849, at which time John B. Enness and Lacy Payton were elected for three years; David Gillespie and Dr. Joseph Stableton, for two years; and David Dunbar and John Parks, for one year. The first meeting under the " new dispensation " was held Aug. 9, 1858, and organized by electing J. B. Enness, Chairman, and David Dunbar, Clcjk. At this meeting the " first rate teacher to head the school, " as per former resolution, was employed in the. person of John McClung, whose salary was fixed at fifty dollars per month. Soon after this time the Board appointed Dr. D. M. McConaughy, Dr. D. W. Stableton and Dr. Martin, as local examiners for the district.

Although the schools, after the reorganization of 1856 were known as graded schools, there is no evidence that any measures were taken to establish a course of instruction, or to reduce the general school work to any special system, by which a standard might be fixed for a pupil to reach in one room or department, in order to be transferred to the next higher, until a period of almost twenty years had elapsed. The so-called grading was left to the principals and teachers from year to year, and as the many different persons who acted in said capacities entertained various opinions a9 to the standard of scholarship necessary for promotion of pupils from department of department, and, also, had different views as to what branches should or should not be taught, it is not strange that the schools of this time, notwithstanding the fact that many excellent teachers had been connected therewith, did not reach that standard of proficiency which the projectors had*eo fondly anticipated. There can be no doubt that one of the chief hindrances to the success of the schools wa9 the frequent change of teacher^,, especially principals. From the year 1856 to 1875, the Manchester schools had fifteen different persons acting in the capacity of Principal, during which period the average term of service wasj^s^ than one and one-tki%d school-years. Within a period of nineteen years, (1856 to 1875) the following named persons had charge ot the schools : John McClung, M. J. Lewis, W. W. Ramsay, James Williams, J. Gregg, J. L. Craig, G. W. Herrick, Wm. Coleman, J. B. Jones, S. T. Kenyon, J. P. Norris, A.'N. Stowell. A. L. Mahaffey, James McColm, .J. H. Compton. Lewis served three years, Ramsay, Herrick and . McColm, each two years, while one year or less, covered the term served by each of the others. It wa9 scarcely possible that any special system could have been adhered to under such unfavorable circumstances, had it evjjn been inaugurated: yet some of these teachers did excellent-work, >while others merely "putin the time" without attempting to arouse any enthusiasm on the part of the pupils. It was in the fall of 1875, that the Board of Education, then consisting of C. Flanagan, D. R. Shriver, C. E. Kirker, W. T. Peyton, R. II. Ellison and J. P. Ellison, determined, that if possible, tho schools be graded in fact as wol! as Iu name. They accordingly caused a course of instruction to bo arranged nominally covering a period of twelve years; nino iu the primary and grammar grades, and three in tho High School. This course of instruction was formally adopted January 3d, 1876. In the grades below the High School the common English branches are! uught, including United States History. Tho studies of the High School included Algebra, Physical Geography, Latiu, General History, Plane and Solid Geometry. Natural Philosophy, Physiology, Botany, Chemistry, English Literature, Rhetoric, and a review of common branches.

This curriculum went into effect immediately, and was found to inspire such a zeal for knowledge among the pupils as had never before been known. Two classes have graduated from the High School. The class of 1878 consisted of John K. Stableton, Edward E. Hopkins, Dudley B. Phillips, Mary Lang, Cora Phillips and Anna B. Peyton. Tho class of 1879 consisted of Wm. W. Stableton, Cordulia Scott, Nettie Peyton, Fannie Phillips and Ella McCutchcn.

The present Board of Education consists of A. J. Mclntiro, D. R. Shriver, W. T. Peyton, J. P. Ellison, Dr. R. A. Stephenson and S. B. Charles. Lucien J. Fenton has been Principal from the year 1875 to the preseut time, (1880). Since the grading of the schools in 1876. the following named teachers have served acceptably in the different deprrtments : Thomas M. Games, J. II. Thomas, Mary M. Wilson, Lucinda E. Stableton, John Rea, Julia Trent, Sallie Billings, Mary Lang, Anna Peyton and Cordulia Scott,

There are now six departments in the school, numbering in all 380 pupils. In conclusion it may be added that the Manchester schools have done a good work iu the past, and promise well for the future, if wisely managed and properly supported by an intelligent public.

The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to Captain James Little, Mr. C. C. Cooley aud Mr. Calvin Montgomery, for valuable data in preparing this brief sketch.

This is one of the oldest churches of the county, but the date of its formation cannot be ascertained with any approximation to certainty. It is probable that the first preaching, which led to its organization was held by Rev. William Williamson, under the spreading branches of some elm trees, that stood at the lower end of town, previous to 1806. It is inferred that a church building was erected prior to 1814, as the church was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, on the 19th day of January, 1814, with William Williamson, Israel Donaldson, William Means, Richard Rounsaville and John Ellison, Sen., as incorporators.

The next church building of which we can find any record, was erected in 1845, at a cost of $1,100. Reynolds & Daugherty were the contractors.

Rev. William Williamson, the first pastor, continued his labors twenty-five years. He was followed by the following list of minister^, some of whom were only temporary supplies, while others served Jrom two to six years. Rev. S. C. '"Rutter, five years; R;v. John McDonald, two years ; Revs. T. S. Williamson, Joseph Chester, William Kephart, Dyer Burgess, John P. Vandyke, Jesse Lockhart, W. II. Rodgers and John P. Hi^js, six years; E. Brainard, three years; A. Thompson, six and d half

Herron, two years ; R. T. Drake, two years ; D. S. Anderson, t\\ years; I. R. Gibbon, three and a half years. Augustus Tuvlt present pastor, who commenced his labors in November, 1875, now in the fifth year of his postoratc.

The following have been the ruliug elders in the church William Ellison, Charles Stephenson", James Ivirkcr, Nuthuuu Montgomery, Israel Donaldson, John Anderson, Robert Strom John Means, Rea Campbell. Ralph Voris, William. Cunningham. C. M. Keith, Dr. G. W. Martin, George Pettitt, Davis D. Cluxton, John Ellison and William Stevenson.

Methodist Protestant Church

This church was organized January 19th, ,1869, with twentysix members, by Rev George Brown, D. D., officiating minister, David Pennywitt, leader, and W. H. Pownall, assistant. Stew-^ ards, Reuben Penny witt, L. L. Conner, Joseph Stableton. Trustees, Joseph Connell, E^gip Butters, Isaac H. Hill.

.Uler diligent seal'd;, we were unable to gather anything of the history, of this eliurcli. The pastor was engaged to continue the research, ami after n lapse of over two months, writes:

** [ have made diligent inquiry concerning the early history of the M. E. church in Manchester, and I cannot find any one who knows enough about the matter to give a monger sketch. "

Oi.ivkii Asiiknmust. - This gentleman is of Irish descent, llts grandfather, William Ashenhust, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, where he married. lie emigrated to America at an early day. and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where his children grew up, and most of them married. He reared a family of live children, two sons and three daughters, all of them born in Ireland but the youngest one, Oliver, who was born on their passage to this country. Mr. Ashenhust, finally moved to Brown county, Ohio, where he lived and died, at the age of ninety-five, his wife dying at the age of ninety-six years. Mr. Ashenhust'a children all came with him to Brown county, and settled near him. John, the eldest son of William Ashenhust, married Mary Young. They were, the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom grew up to the years of maturity and married. Oliver, the youngest of these children, is the subject of this sketch. He married Susan Parker, in November, 1816. By this marriage, he had one daughter, named Samantha, who married John Clinger. They live on Island creek, Monroe township. Mr. Ashenhust's wife died, and he married for a second wife, Amy Phibbs. By this marriage he lias reared a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, named John F., Julius Mcianethon, James Oliver, Mary Margaret, Elizabeth, Ella, Mvrtic, Lulu Maud, and Minnie May. Of these children, John F. married Clara Leedoin. and is engaged in the milling business in Ironton. Julius M. married Alice Charles, and is also engaged in the milling business in Ironton. The others are unmarried, and remain at home, Oliver Ashenhust's father died in Wayne county, Ohio, aged eightyfive. His mother died in Chase city, Mecklenburg county, Va., aged ninety. Of his four grand parents, his parental grandfather and grandmother died aged ninety-five and ninety-six, respectively, while his maternal grandfather was one hundred and ten his maternal grandmother was ninety-three, at the time of their decease, the average age of the four grandparents being ninetyeight and one half years.

Peter Cooley, was born in Winchester, Va., about the year 1788; removed with his step-father, John Lodwick, when about Six years old, and settled on Eagle creek. Adams county, in 1791 or '95. Here he lived until he was fifteen years of ng®, when Mr. Lodwick bound him to a man in Washington, Ky., to learn the saddle and harness trade. There he remained until he was twenty-one, when he came to Manchester and opened the first saddle and harness shop in the comity. He carried on the business several years, when he commenced the dry goods and grocery business, his store being the second one opened in Manchester. He remained in the dry goods business until his death in 1813. In March, 1812, he raised a company of volunteers, was elected Captain, and inarched his company with General Harrison's army against the British and Indians. He was married in 1810 to Miss Nancy Perry, by the Rev. William Williamson. \They commenced housekeeping as soon as married in the same room he used for ; - harness shop. Their cooking utensils consisted of a skillet id two lids, both broken. Every Sunday they indulged ill the uxury of a cup of coffee which was made in a tin cup. In the course of time they had nine children. At the time of Mr. Cool- . oy's death lie had accumulated enough property to give his seven surviving children a good start ill life. Five of his children are yet living. Three sons and one daughter are in Manchester - one son is in the West.

James Cosher. - The subject of this sketch is of Irish descent. His father, Peter Cbnner, came from Ireland and settled iii Manchester in 1791. In 1798, he Bet, led a farm on the Maysville and Chillicothe road, three miles west of Manchester, where he lived to the time of his disease in 1826. His son, James Conner, was born and grew to manhood, on this farm. In 1832, Jm) married Miss Margaret Boyle* and in 1831 bought the oh! homestead on which lie lived until 1874, when he sold it and removed to Manchester, where ho now resides. He reared a family of fern* children, one son and three daughters, all of whom survive and are' married. The son, James II. Conner, la the present treasurer-of Adams -county.

Israel Ooxaliison. - Israel Donaldson, whose history is so intimately connected with the early business of Adams comity, was born in Greenwich, Cumberland county, Now Jersey, Febunry 2. 1767. In 1(181 he removed to Ohio county, Wost Virginia, where he remained until 1790, engaged in farming and teaching school. In May of that year, lie took passago on a flat boat for Kentucky, arriving nt Limestone - now Maysville - Juno 1. He taught school nl that place during the summer, anil early in 1701 i ime to Manchester mid joined Gen. Massie in surveying. For many years of his life Mr. Donaldson appears to have been engaged in various business enterprises in and about Manchester, and did much to aid in developing the material resources and building up the prosperity of the place. He was a man of the strictest integrity - endowed with great business capacities, and commanded the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens everywhere. When the call for a Convention, to frame a Constitution for the new State of Ohio was made, he was elected by his fellow-citizens as a delegate from Adams county, which trust ho discharged with credit to himself and honor to his county. He served in General Wayne's army in the campaign against the Indians in 1794, wintering with it near where Greenville now stands. He volunteered under the general call in the war of 1812 : but as more men answered to that call than were needed, he was one of the number sent back after an absence of three or four months. He was a member of the Presbyterian church for upward of sixty years, and a riding eider for many years. Through a long life he was always governed by the religion he professed and was a consistent Christian. He died February 9, 1860. and lies buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Manchester. He married Miss Annie Pennyvvitt, November 15, 1798. There being no marriage laws in Ohio at that time, these parties had to go over to Kentucky to have the ceremony performed. These parents reared a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters: Sarah B., born August 11, 1800; Mary B., born August 6, 1802; Harriet, born November 17, 1804; Joseph, born Juno 6, 1807; John, born August 10, 1810; George W., born August 9, 1814; Eveline B., born July 7, 1817 ; Sarah B. died in early years ; Mary B. married Robert Herron, and is now living a widow in Eckmauville ; Harriet A. married S. W. Compton, and now lives in Rome, Adams county, Ohio; Joseph, married Caroline Bagley in 1828, and removed ill 1836 to Canton, Fulton comity, Illinois, and engaged in the practice of medicine and died there in 18 - ; John, married Clarinfla Ellis in 1844, and lives in Brown county, Ohio, is engaged in fanning ; George W. lost his life August 30, 1847, in attempting to remove the goods from the burning house of his brother John in Manchester; Eveline, married George B. Clark, April 19, 1841. She died in 1851.

W. T. Pf.yton. - The I'eyton family is of Scotch origin. The ancestors of W. T. Peyton, emne at an early day, and settled in Loudon county, Virginia, but the first reliable account we get, is of tiie grand-father, who lived, married and died there. He reared a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Four of these children, three sons and one daughter, came West, and settled in different parts of Ohio. One of the sons, named Lacey, who was born May 5, 1816, married Eliza Jones in 1838, and a few years afterwards moved to Adams county, O., and settled at Louisville, a little village near Marble Furnace. After remaining there a few years, lie removed to North Liberty, where his wife died. By this marriage he raised four children, three sons and one daughter, William T., Townsend, Margaret and Charles. For a second wife, Mr. Peyton married Nancy Purcell, by whom he had a daughter named Jennie. His second wife died, and he married for a third one, a lady named Catharine Monroe, of Allegheny City, Pa. He then moved to Manchester, where he remained a few years, but finally settled in Harrison county, Iowa, where ho yet resides. By his last marriage, Mr. Peyton has reared a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter. Of Mr. Peyton's children by his first wife but two now survive, William T. and Charles. William T., who is the subject of this sketch, was born in Loudon county, Va., January 13, 1838. He received his education mostly at North Liberty. In 1855, he commenced the study of medicine with the Drs. Stableton, of Manchester, but before finishing his full course of studies, he commenced selling drugs and medicines in n small way at first, but the sales increased so rapidly, that it soon engrossed his whole time and attention, and the completion of his studies, with a view to the practice of his chosen profession, was abandoned,' since which time he has devoted his whole attention to the business of druggist. His trade has continually increased, until he now has the largest establishment of the kind in the county. William T. Peyton marked Jennie Gates, December 31, 1857. They are the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, to-wit: Edwin Hurold, born April 20, 1850; Nettie Blanche, born August 27, 1860 ; Frsnk,Ray, born Junel, 1863 ; Ada May, born July 19, 1865, and Kafe Leonora, born May 5, 1868 ; ull living but the oldest. Harry, as Edwin was called, was drowned, while bathing in the Ohio river, July 27, 1879, aged 20 years, 7 months and 3 days. He was a young man of much promise; had tnken one coarse at the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, and would have completed the second course In the succeeding fall and winter. He was u devotee of science ; was specially interested in the subject of archeology, and had gathered one of tho best collections of tho mound-builders remains to bo found in the State. His untimely death is a loss to tho country and world, ns well ns to his relatives and friends.

Abraham Pkbky. - Thp subject of this sketch was born in Washington county, O., Fobruary 3, 1808 ; was married November 4j 1830, to Eliznbcth Ellis, They were tho parents of eighteen children, but two of whom survive - one 60ii and ono daughter. He camo to Adams uotiniy in 1825, and kept wliur! boat, farmed carried on Iho mercantile business ; was extensively engaged in the flour trade, doing a commission business. Tic lms I'reipienlly been called to till important public trusts, lie was. elected ihc first Mayor, of Manchester,' has filled (he office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years; was appointed by President Lincoln, Deputy United States Marshal for tho Southern District of Ohio, which position he held two terms. f ^

J. A. Lougiiiiidge, - The father of our subject, "William Loughridgc, was born ill Tyrone, county, Ireland, in 1771, and emigrated to America in 1803, and settled in Carlisle, Pa., where he remained until 1807, when he removed to Adams county, and settled in Monroe township, on the head waters of Island creek, on tho farm now owned by M. F. Wade, where lie lived and died, in 1851. He reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Only two of these children now survive, W. il. Loughridgc, who lives in Indiana, and J. A. Loughridgc, wle> lives in Manchester.

Alexander Roush. - Ttie subject of this sketch was born in Sprigg township, June 27, 1847. His ancestry is given in the biography of William Roush, of that township. He was married to Miss Olivine Pence, November 16, 1871. By this marriage there were born unto him two children : Harvey, born September 16, 1872, and Lillie born . Mrs. Itousli died July 15, 1878.

Mr. Roush married for a second wife, Caroline Ellison, October 21, 1879. He is how engaged in the milling business, for which, see history of Ashcnhurst, Roush & C'o.'s Mills, Manchester.

Dk. R. A. Stephenson. - Tho subject of this sketch is of Scotch descent, his ancestors emigrating to this country from the North of Ireland, prior to the Revolutionary War, and settled in Sussex county, Delaware. In the year 1790, his great grandfather, William Stephenson, with his family, moved to Limestone, (now Maysville) Kentucky, and remained in that State until 1800. when he removed to Brown county, Ohio, near Ripley, where lie resided until iiis death. His grand-father. Mills Stephenson, married Miss Fitzpatrick, and raised a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters: Robert, Ephraim, John, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Young and Lemuel, all of whom aro now dead, except Robert P. Stephenson, who married Mary Wallace, in September, 1819, and raised a family of ten children : Mills, Ephraim, Jane, Thomas, Lemuel Young, Mary Ann, Robert A., Catharine J., and William It., all of whom survive except Mills, Ephraim and Jane. Dr. R. A. Stephenson was horn on tho 11th of August, 1838, near Ripley, O., and received his education at the Ripley High School ; he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. It. Bell, of Ripley, O., on the third day October, 1859, and attended his first course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Pa., in the fall aiulNvinter of 1860 and '61. In the month of August, 1861, he applied to the regular army board of medical examiners for permission to be examined for the position of Medical Cadet U. S. Army; passed Ihe required examination, and was assigned to duty at Union Hospital. Georgetown, D. C., in the latter part of August, 1861 ; remained there until 1st of May, 1S62, when he was ordered to Indiana Hospital - then in the west wing of patent office building - remained there until July 4th, when he wa9 ordered to Point Lookout, Marylnnd. where a hospital wncstablished under tho supervision of Dr. Clinton Wagner, il. remained on duly at this post until mustered out, 1st of Octobc 1862. Attended second course of lectures nt Jefferson Medic. College, and graduated with the class in March, 1863. Soon a ter graduating, made application to the state hoard of medic examiners, passed Ihe required examination for the position . Assistant Surgeon, and was assigned to duty with the 69l!i liegi O. V. I., where he remaiped as Assistant Surgeon ti util .laiiuar. 1865, at Savannah, Ga. ; was then promoted Surgeon, and was fin ally mustered out ut Camp Dennison, July 25thl 1S65. Laeale. and commenced practice nt Bcntourillc, Adams county. O., in October, 1805, and was married to Mis9 Kate Hopkins, on the 27lh ol November, 1867, and has a family of three children, two sons and one daughter: Wm, P., Mary and Robert, all of whom ore now living-- He removed to Manchester, his present location- Juno 1st, 1873. - I

Negro Iiung

On Saturday morning November 22, 1856, a Negro, named Terry, committed an outrage on Mrs. Morrison, whose husband, nt the time was absent. YE«rry was promptly arrested and lodged in jail. When Mr. Morrison returned and the circumstances became fully known, tho indignation of tho citizens knew no hounds. They adopted measures to inflict su in m ary punishment on the offender.

Accordingly, about 10 o'clock, A. M., Tuesday, November 25, they assembled to the number of two or three hundred, and iii wagons mid on horsobaek, proceeded to West Union, whbre court was in sossiou, and there in the presence of the numbers usually gathered during court, they deliberately went to the jail, broke it open, took out the prisoner, placed, him in a wagon and returned to Manchester, wliora they arrived about 3 o'clock, P. M, Hero n little limo was given the prisoner td arrange bis worldly affair* and bid Isis wife n lust farewell. These ceremonies over, they

Iii i ho forenoon of August :i0, 1873, an affray occurred in Manchester, that resulted in Die death of Morris Edgiugton. Mr. Eil'riiigtoii owned the pottery establishment on Front street, now I he** property of Thomas McCann. While engaged in the ware room in w liieli the pottery is dried preparatory to burning and w here the burnt ware is also deposited for pale, two men, named .loin: Warden and .Tames Daugherty, with whom Mr. Edgiugton had luul some misunderstanding, eamo in. They were apparently intoxicated and becoming troublesome, Mr. Edgiugton undertook to put them out by force, when Daugherty drew a knife which lie had somewhere about, with which lie stabbed him. Edgiugton died within twenty-four hours.

The parties implicated in this allair were arrested, indicted at the January term of court. John Warden was tried, found o-uiiiy of murder in the second degree, and on the 27th of January, 1S7E was sentenced to the penitentiary for life.

Daugherty was kept in jail until July 27, 1874, on the night of w hich day he made his escape and was heard of no more until the 17th or 18th of November following, when he was found in Louisiana, brought back and again lodged in jail, lie was tried on the 25th of January, found guilty of murder in the second degree and on the 20th sentenced to the Penitentiary for life.

William Monroe, a farmer, living near the junction of Beasley's Fork and Moore's ltun, was a stout muscular man, noted for his ruffianly, quarrelsome disposition when drinking, frequently netting in rows and fights, though in his sober hours, he wre a hardworking and rather thrifty business man and owned a good farm or two. Some years before, be had had a difficulty on a boat with some of the Greenlee family who lived near Bradvvillc. On Saturday September 2, 1876, Samuel Greenlee, William Greenlee, Thompson Frame and Mohroc were all in Manchester and as usual had indulged too freely. Sometime in. the afternoon they met at the McDaid House, the old quarrel was easily renewed and Monroe and Samuel Greenlee soon engaged in combat in front of the hotel. In the struggle, Monroe was stabbed and immediate1'' expired.

The case against William Greenlee was nollicd for want of sufficient evidence, but Samuel Greenlee, was tried, found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment in the Ohio iienitcntiary, which he served out, except a few months commuted for good behavior.

Early Recollections Of Captain James Little

.Tames Little was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. De ember 4, 1793, came with his parents to Maysvillc where they landed May 19. 1893, and soon after settled in Aberdeen, Frown county, Ohio.

Ilis father. Thomas Little, was born in county Tyrone, Ircnd, and when a young man came to America. lie caine to this - nntry just at the commencement of the Revolution, lauded at hiladelphia and the next day enlisted in the Continental army id served throughout the war. lie was at the battle of Monmouth and Cowpens, as well as many other places. Capt. Littl< s mother, whose maiden name was Mary Nieper, came with her mother from Ireland to this country, in the ship Prosperity, and landed at New Castle, Del. This was the last vessel that arrived before the commencement of hostilities in the Revolutionary war.

A son warned James, now every where known as "Capt. Little" seems to have been a "natural born" boatman. He, from his earliest y< -urs, took to the water as naturally as a duck doe^ He commenced his career ns a boatr ^n as soon as he was large enough to -- paddle" a canoe. Fron *he canoe he went tothe flatboat. then the keel boat and to the i eamboat, starting as a common hand and Working his way up to Captain, in which apacity he has spent a good part of his life.

lie remembers all the early steamboats that ran C3 \e Ohio. The first oue that ever came down the river, was ii. i Orleans,' built at Pittsburgh in 1811. It passed Mai. ester in December that year. A crowd of people lined the banks cT the river to see it pass. This was the year in which no many earthquakes occurred in the southwest and which were . -JbJyfeu even In this region. Capt. Little was on a keel boat on the river about throe miles above Maysvillc when one occurred. Ii , . - on Monday morning a little before day. and was so sever inu chimneys

Tho next boat was the Etna, also built at Pittsburgh, in 1812 ; then the Vesuvius, the next year. These boats all idled on the western rivers and never came back again.

'fho Dispatch, built on the Mouongahaln, near Bridgeport, was the next. This was the first boat that ever returned up the Ohio. It was built by James Tumblcslon and Ids son-in-law, and commanded by Eldcrry Perry. On an upward trip from New Orleans, it sank at the falls at. Louisville, and was lost.

Capt. Little was in the war of 1812, walked over flic ground of Dudley's defeat the next day after the battle; was at the siege of Fort Meigs in 1813 and wa$ at the battle of the Thames which resulted in the utter defeat of the British and Indians, by the forces under Gen. Harrison.

The Ellison Family. - This family is of "Irish origin. As early as 1791, John Ellison and four sons, Andrew, John, James and Robert Ellison and a daughter, Margaret Ellison came from Ireland and settled at Manchester. It is believed the mother never came to this country, but died in Ireland, before the family left there. John Ellison, the father of this family, died in 1806 and is buried in tbcljixon graveyard, two miles south of West Union. The four brothers soon became prominent business men in the county and performed a conspicuous part in developing its resources. They all married and have left a numerous race of descendants. that still constitute a considerable element in the population of the county. They arc noted for their business enterprise and influence in public affairs. These descendants arc also found scattered over different sections of the country and in many of the States of the Union. Andrew Ellison, the oldest brother was married in Ireland and came over with his wire and infant son, named John, before the others did. Ho finally settled on Lick Fork and built the stone house now owned by Simon Fields, where lie lived and died. He was captured by Indians in 1793. while living at Manchester and was detained among them some six or eight months. He was twice married and raised a family of five children, named John, Isabella, Margaret, Jane and Andrew. He and his second wife both died on the Lick Fork farm and arc buried on the bottom over the creek, not far from the old stone house. Mr. Ellison died June 5, 1833, aged seventy-five years. Mrs. Ellison died July 2, 1824, aged sixty-eight years. John, the oldest of these children became a prominent citizen of Adams county. He served as Sheriff two terms and officiated at the hanging of David Beckett. He was several times elected a member of the Legislature where lie served with distinction, lie died April 10, 1829. He married Anna Barr daughter of Samuel Barr. They were the parents of eleven children, named Andrew B., Sarah, Mary, John, Esther, Jane, Margaret A., Ann, William, and two sons that died young. Of these children, Andrew B. Ellison, became a prominent business man of Adams county. He was actively engaged in the mercantile business in Manchester for forty years, retiring only at the age of seventy. He was married to Rachel A. II. Enness, of Cinciilnali, October 22, 1833, by the Itcv. Dr. J. L. Wilson of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. A. B. Ellison died of typhoid pneumonia, at her residence in Manchester* in the sixty-second year of her age and was buried in the old cemetery (here. She was esteemed and beloved by nil who knew her for her amiability and goodness of heart. She had long been a member of the Presbyterian church and died in the hope of a blessed immortality. Mr. A. R. Ellison is now living in Manchester with his second daughter, Mrs. Susan B. E. Drcnan, now in the evening of life, calmly aw'aiting the summons to call him hence. A. B. Ellison and Rachel Ellison had born unto them four children, Anna Eliza, Susan B. John and Rachel Means. Anna Eliza, the eldest daughter married Rev. R. B. Herron, of Hillsborough, Highland county, O. She was married in the old Presbyterian church in Manchester, by the Rev. D. M. Moore, died in Manchester, January 23, 1870, while on a visit to her father's, leaving two children, Andrew G. and Anna E. Herron. She was buried in the familwfdt in the old cemetery.0 She was a devoted Christian and a good woman. Susan B. Ellison, the second daughter, married Samuel D. Drenan, of Drcnan's Landing, Rev. J. R. Gibson was the officiating clergyman, assisted by Rev. R. B. Herron. Rachel Means Ellison, the youngest daughter, married Peter Shira9 of Cincinnati, who was then engaged in the ! banking business in Manchester. They now live in Ottowa, Kansas, where Mr. Shirks is engaged in banking. They have a family of eight children. John Ellison, the only son, died when young. Sarah, Die second in the family, of John and Anna Ellison, married T. W. Means. She is dead. There arc by this marriage six living childroi. Mary K., the third child, married William Ellison. They reared a family of four children. Robert II., Sarah J., Mary A. and Julia. Of these children, Robert II. Ellison, the first in the family, is a leading business man of t lie county, and now county Auditor. He married Isabella Harris, of

Xenia, Ohio. They aro tho parents of two children, May Margaret and Francis Harris Ellison. Sarah J. Ellison, the M»r»md child, married Archibald Means. They have four oh lid rim, William K.. Archibald L., Robert and Sadie. Mary A. Ellison, Die third child, married I). M. Moore. They have three children, Emily. William and Edwin M. Ellison. Julia Ellison married John A. Murry, of Manchester - no children living. John Ellison, fourth child, was twice married, first to Mary Baldwin, next to Caroline. There were born unto him by those marriages three children, J. P. Ellison, Esther M. and Louisa B. Esther Ellison was tho fifth of those children. She tnurrled Hugh Means. They wore tho parents o.' two children, John and Anna. They boih died of consumption aged about 18«rcars. Jane Ellison, tho sixth child, married D. Sinton. They raised a daughter, Anna, who

Ellison, the seventh, married R. B. Lnmpton. They reside in Kentucky; have a fam'ly of children. William Ellison, the youngest, never married. John Ellison, tho second brother, in 1786, with his wife, emigrated to the United States, settled in Philadelphia, where they remained until about 1794, when they cninc to Manchester. To them were born, James Ellison, married to Miss Williamson ; William Ellison, married to Miss Mary K. Ellison; Robert Ellison, never marrjed, died in Manchester; Elizabeth Ellison, married to James Kirker; Margaret Ellison, never married, diqd in Manchester; David Ellison, married Miss Lucinda Livingston; Mary Ellison, married James Clark. Robert Ellison commonly called Robin Ellison married Rebecca Lo<khart. They had born unto them ten children. John Ellison never murfied, died in Iron ton ; Margaret Ellison, never married, lives in Ironton ; Cyrus Ellison, married Elizabeth Stevenson. He is still living in Ironton, in his second marriage, to Mrs. Tomlinson, of Portsmouth, O. ; Moses Ellison, married Miss Loughridge; Thomas Ellison, married Miss Wilson; Robert Ellison, married a lady from Pennsylvania ; Elizabeth Ellison, married Thomas Huston ; Catherine Ellison, married Mr. Newell, of Maysvillc, Kv. ; Mary Ellison, married James Hood, she died. Isabella Ellison, married James Hood, a second wife ; she is also dead.

married, still living in Coles county, Illinois, with his sister, Mrs. Baldridge. Margaret Ellison, the sister, married John Clark They were the parents of thirteen children : Isabel, Nancy, Robert, Mary, John, James, Andrew, Jane, Sarah, Margaret, Susan, William who died when a young man, and one that died :n infancy.

Cash For All K.

W/4SW. CROSS, Wagon Maker & Blacksmith, Manufacturer of All Kinds of Agricultural Implements, Plows &? Rome Greene Township, Adams Co. 0. close to the Steamboat Landing .

Source changes here: from A History of Adams County, Ohio, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Character Sketches of the Prominent Persons Identified with the First Century of the Country's Growth .., by Evans, Nelson Wiley, published 1900; 3,948 words in this source stream.

Manchester Township

Manchester was the name of one of the territorial townships formed at the organization of Adams County, September, 1797. It included a part of what is now Tiffin, Oliver, and Scott; all of Winchester, Wayne and Liberty; and, most of Sprigg Township as now constituted, including the present township of Manchester. Its northern limit extended to the Wayne County line north of the site of the city of Columbus.

In the year 1806, the Board of County Commissioners reorganized the townships of the county, and Manchester was subdivided into townships and parts of townships bearing new names, that of Manchester being dropped from the record.

In 1858 a new township named Manchester was formed from Sprigg Township including the town of Manchester. With slight alterations the present township is now as then formed. It includes the incorporated village of Manchester and Manchester Special School District.

Under another chapter in this volume is an account of the first settlement in Adams County, which was made in what is now Manchester Township. Nathanial Massie and his little band of pioneers, whose names are recorded in the narrative above mentioned, were the first settlers. Their cabins were built within the Stockade which occupied a plot of about three acres of ground opposite the west end of the lower, or as now called, Manchester Island. This island, which contains about one hundred acres, was cleared by the residents within the Stockade in the spring of 1791, and the years following down to 1795, and afforded the grain fields for the little colony. In the years 1795 and 1796, many families living in cabins four and five miles back in the woods came to Manchester to cultivate patches of corn on the island. A grand-daughter of Michael Roush, the pioneer, has often related to the writer that her mother, a daughter of Michael Roush, told her that she and others of the family used to walk from their home in the ''Dutch Settlement" in Sprigg Township to Manchester Island to hoe corn the first year they came to Adams County, which was in 1796. It is said that the first cabins built in Manchester outside the Stockade, were those of Nathaniel Massie, Israel Donalson, Isaac Edgington, Job Denning, Andrew Boyd, Andrew Ellison, John Ellison, John McGate, John Kyte, Seth Foster, Joseph Edgington and John Beasley. These were all in the vicinity of the Stockade ; most of the terrace where the present site of the town is, was then too swampy for settlement. John McGate or "Megitt," as written in the court records, was the first tavern keeper in Manchester, and his house was the meeting place for the officials of the township. (See chapter on Early Taverns and Old Inns.) In the year 1799 Andrew Boyd opened the first store in Manchester.

Manchester, as has been stated, occupies the whole of Manchester Township. As originally laid out, it contained 108 lots, to which have been made the following additions: West Manchester in 1839, fc>rtyeight lots; Yate's Addition in 1843, sixteen lots; Donalson's Addition to West Manchester in 1849, twenty- three lots; Improvement Cctfnpany's Addition, in 1855, 452 lots; Hill's Addition, 1858, four lots, making in all 651 lots. The town was incoporated in the year 1850. Abraham Perry was the first mayor and Joseph Shriver, the 'first town marshal. At the time of its incorporation it had a population of 434 inhabitants. In ten years it doubled its population ; and now it enumerates over 2,500 souls.

The first mail route in Ohio crossed Adams County. This was over Zane's Trace from Wheeling to Limestone at which latter place the residents within the present limits of Adams County received their mail. In 1 80 1, a postoffice, the first in the county, was ^tablished at Manchester with Israel Donalson postmaster. He served for twelve years when he was succeeded by John Ellison, Jr., the old sheriff of the county who hanged Beckett.

Presbyterian - This organization was formed in 1805 from the Eagle Creek congregation near West Union. The church was incorporated in January, 1814, with Rev. William Williamson, Israel Donalson, William Means, Richard Rounsaville, and John Ellison, Sr., as incorporators. The first church building was erected, it is said, in 1807, and was a log structure which stood on the site of the old cemetery in Manchester. The present brick church was erected in 1845.

Metnodist Protestant - This church was organized in 1869 with twenty-six members. David Pennywitt, leader, and W. H. Pownall, assistant. Stewards: Reuben Pennywitt, L. L. Connor, Joseph Stableton. Trustees: Joseph Council, Edwin Butler, Isaac Hill.

Roman Catholic - About the year 1889, Michael O'Neil, of Manchester, succeeded after many years of unceasing effort, in having built at Manchester a frame structure dedicated to the use of the Catholic church of which he was a devout member. This is the only church of that denomination ever organized in Adams County, and as there are but few members of that denomination in Manchester and vicinity, there has never been a resident priest in charge of the church.

De Kalb Lodge, No. 138, T. O. O. F. - This lodge was instituted at West Union, October 13, 1849, with the following charter members: David Greenlee, John Harsha, Joseph Hayslip, William M. Meek, and Francis Shinn. In 1855, it was removed by order of the Grand Lodge to Manchester, and was instituted there July 31, 1856, with nineteen members removed from West Union. The officers elected were: Henr}^

Manchester Lodge, No. 317, F. & A. M. Manchester Lodge, No. 317, was organized under a dispensation granted by Horace M. Stokes, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, dated May 7, 1859, duly empowering the lodge to work the three symbolic degrees.

The work of the lodge was conducted by authority of this dispensation until the annual session of the Grand Lodge which convened in the dty of Columbus on the twentieth day of October of that year when a charter was granted bearing the names of Henry Y. Copple, James N, Brittingham, Benjamin Bowman, David Dunbar, George W. Sample, William A. Shriver, Perry T. Connelly, William McCalla, and others (as reads the charter), dated as above and covering all acts of said lodge from May 7th.

The brethren feeling justly proud of their new charge and realizing the responsibility seized their working tools and went to work with willing hands, and as subsequent proceedings show their efforts were not in vain, but on the contrary have been crowned with a success seldom attained in the annals of Masonry in this State.

The first petition for initiation was that of Andrew B. Ellison, who will be remembered by many of our readers as one of the principal merchants of Manchester at that time, and who long since laid down the working tools of life after a long, honorable and praiseworthy career. The second petition was from Captain William Kirker.

The first death among the members was that of Benjamin Bowman, which occurred April i, i860, and he was buried by the Order in the old cemetery at Manchester.

The records of the lodge show that the good old custom of visiting was practiced to a great extent during the early years of its existence. West Union, Aberdeen, Ripley, Winchester, Locust Grove, and Concord, Ky., often being represented at the same communication. And this same custom is, we are happy to note, like Masonic landmarks, kept regularly and is one of the social ties of Free Masonry which has ever characterized Manchester Lodge.

Among the bright Masonic lights who have sat under the sound of the gavel in Manchester Lodge, are noticed the names of Cornelius Moore, who so ably edited the Masonic Reviezv for so many years at Cincinnati. Also, John M. Barrere, one of the best informed Masons in the State in his day, and many others of prominence and note in the councils of the Order, each of whom in his own peculiar way contributed to the edification of the brethren.

The lodge when first organized met in the J. N. Kirker building at the comer of Second and Pike Streets. It afterward moved to the frame building on West Front Street, now owned by James Taylor. The first meeting of the lodge in its present quarters, the Ellison Building, at the southwest corner of Second and Pike Streets was held on the evening of December 22, 1866, and the records show that on February 23, 1867, the hall was formally dedicated under the personal direction of Howard Mathews, then Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ohio, ably assisted by Robert Gwynn, of Kentucky, an eminent Mason and Masonic author. Alfred Pennywitt had the honor to be Master of the lodge on this interesting occasion. At the time of the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, the lodge was in its infancy and when the call for troops was heralded over the land, many of its members not forgetting one of the first charges to a Free Mason upon his initiation to be a good and true man, obeyed the teachings of the Order, laid down the implements of a peaceful life, and the Masonic working tools, and went forth to battle and in some cases to die for the country they loved, reflecting high honor upon themselves and their mother lodge. Among those of the members of this lodge who served the country most gallantly in her hour of peril were Maj. Ephriam J. Ellis of th^ 33rd O. V. I., who fell at Stone River; Capt. D. R. Shriver; Capt. N. W. Foster; Capt. Wilson Foster; Col. Henry L. Phillips ; Capt. John Taylor ; Gen. A. T. Wikoff ; Capt. Lafayette Foster ; John W. Pownall and J. W. Rogers. The names of all the members of Manchester Lodge who served in the army were published in the Masonic Review of Cincinnati. The brethren of the lodge appreciating their services remitted all their dues during their term of services. After the war closed and the boys came home crowned with honors, they received a royal welcome from their brethren.

Who can best work and best agree is a virtue which has always actuated the members of Manchester Lodge, and their labors were not in vain, as the records show there have been one hundred and eighty-three initiations, to say nothing of those who affiliated from other lodges ; and. after deducting all who have died, been suspended, and expelled or withdrawn, the report to the Grand Lodge in the fall of 1898 showed a membership of one hundred and two in good and regular standing. Manchester Lodge is up to date in every particular. The work is placed on the floor in a masterly manner which is evidenced by the large number of visiting brethren from other lodges who always find a cordial welcome and much favorable comment is expressed on the number of skilled workmen among the membership of Manchester Lodge. Of the original charter members only four are living: George W. Sample, aged 92; James N. Brittingham, 80; David Dunbar, 79 and William A. Shriver, 72 yeai;i The following is a list of Past Masters: Henry W. Copple, Jair>es N. Brittingham, E. J. Ellis. Thomas D. Parker, A. B. Ellison. J. W.- Pownall, Alfred Pennywitt, David Dunbar, Lafayette Fo^er, John F. Games, Henry Collings, John K. Dunbar. S. N. Greenlee, J. W. Jones, W. N. Watson, A. J. Mclntire and Frank E. Reynolds ; James E. Mott, now presiding. All of the above are living at this writing except Copple, Parker, Ellis, Ellison and Foster.

The first regular communication under its charter was held on the evening of November 7, 1859, whereupon an election of officers was had and the following named brethren were elected as the first regular officers : James N. Brittingham, W. M. ; George W. Sample, S. W. ; Andrew B. Ellison, J. W. ; William A. Shriver, Treas. ; David Dunbar, Secy. ; John W. Pownall, S. D. ; Thomas D. Parker, J. D. ; Perry T. Connelly, Tiler.

that time. Nathaniel Massie was also a frequent visitor. He was the son of Nathaniel Massie, the founder of Manchester. Manchester Lodge made a handsome contribution to the Masonic Home at Springfield and a private contribution was raised among the members sufficient to furnish a room in elegant style and the room named in honor of the lodge ; and, one of the oldest members of Manchester Lodge, Jason McDermod, is now one of the inmates of the Masonic Home. The foregoing history of Manchester Lodge though brief should cause the present members to feel that loyal pride with which its excellent founders were imbued when

Manchester Chapter, No. I29, Royai. Arch Masons

During the spring of 1871 an effort was made by a number of Royal Arch Masons in and around Manchester to further the growth of Capitular ^lasonry, whereupon a formal application was made for a dispensation to institute a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Manchester, signed by the following named companions hailing from different Chapters, to-wit : A. T. Wikoff, W. B. Cole, R. A. Stephenson, A. P. Pownall, Harrison Warner, E. C. Pollard, R. S. Daily, Thomas P, Foster, Jno. P. Bloomhuff, G. G. Games, John Sparks, John M. Freeman, M. S. Jeffries, R. M. Owens, Thomas M. Games, Nathaniel Massie. The application was forwarded to the Most Excellent High Priest together with maps showing location and distances of Blue Lodges in the jurisdiction. The application received favorable consideration and on the twenty-ninth day of June, 1871, a dispensation was granted by Charles C. Keifer, Grand High Priest, empowering them to open a Chapter and confer the degrees of Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch.

Being now fully empowered to work, the first regular convocation was held on the evening of July 12, 1871, and on the ^ame evening five petitions were received, namely : Junius N. Higgins, David Dunbar, L. L. Edgington, William Kirker and H. B. Gaffin.

The first three officers appointed by the Grand High Priest were Thomas P. Foster, High Priest; Thomas M. Games, King; and Robert A. Stephenson, Scribe.

Under their dispensation the companions worked along until the convocation of the Grand Chapter on the twenty-sixth day of September, 1 87 1, at which convocation they were regularly granted a charter. The companions of Manchester Chapter worked with fervency and zeal and as a reward have the satisfaction to know that Manchester Chapter No. 129 sends the names of more members in their annual report to the Grand Chapter than any other Chapter between Cincinnati and Portsmouth. David Dunbar has been the Secretary of Manchester Chapter for twentyeight consecutive years.

Hawkeye Tribe No. 117 Imp. O. R. M. - This lodge was instituted May 27, 1887, with W. V. Cooley. Sachem: J. H. Brawner, Prophet: J. W. Guthridge, Senior Sagamore : D. B. Phillips, Junior Sagamore ; H. C. Doddridge, Chief of Record ; and William Charles, Keeper of Wampum.

It is said that the first schoolhouse stood near the southeast corner of the plat of ground now known as the old cemetery, and that Israel Donalson, a pioneer schoolmaster, accountant and surveyor, was the first teacher. The date of this building has been fixed by some writers as early as 1794, but the writer is of the opinion that the first school building was not erected before 1796. Mr. Donalson wielded the rod there for several terms when he was succeeded by John Barritt, ^another pioneer schoolmaster and once Sheriff of Adams County. He was followed by William Dobbins, a son of Rev. Robert Dobbins, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume.

This house was constructed of logs with one door and two windows, the latter made by cutting out a log from each side of the building. One of the spaces was filled with a row of glass and the other with oiled paper. There was an old-fashioned fire-place in one end of the room, where firewood, six feet in length, could be used. The floor and seats were of puncheons. In that time, there was a practice of having **loud" schools. All study and any communication were aloud, and the lessons were sometimes sung in concert. The text books used in that building were Webster's Spelling Book, the English Reader and Pike's Arithmetic. Grammar was not introduced until 1818 when Lindley Murray's celebrated work was used. Geography was never taught in the log schoolhouse.

In 1828, the log schoolhouse was replaced by a brick building. The furniture consisted of a few long desks adjoining the walls for the use of the larger pupils, while the seats of the smaller ones were made of rough slabs without any backs. James Smith, afterward a member of the Ohio Legislature, taught the first term in the new building. He was succeeded by J. T. Crapsey who had edited an Anti -Masonic newspaper at West Union, and he by William Robe, afterward a noted surveyor in the Virginia Military District. The following are among the persons said to have taught in this building: Jane Dickinson, Jane Williamson, Andrew Crawford. George Burgess, Robert Buck, David and John Pennywitt, Edward Burbage, Thomas Hayslip, R. R. Case, Andrew Mannon, William McCalla and Parker Douglas. Judge James L. Coryell, Jesse and Jeremiah Ellis obtained their first lessons in surveying from Willian Mc- Calla. The use of the rod as a means of discipline was general. It was used indiscriminately without regard to age or sex, and yet the discipline was not good.

On October 17, 1853, it was determined by the School Board of Manchester to have two schools. At that time there were two hundred and eighty-three pupils and William McCalla was the teacher.

On the fourth of May, 1855, the Board, having purchased the west end of out-lot nuntber eighteen, contracted to place a schoolhouse thereon, of brick, fifty feet long by twenty-four feet wide, two stories high, and it was estimated to cost eight hundred dollars. It was opened at the beginning of the year 1856.

The question of a graded school was voted on at a special election held August 11, 1856, under the Act of February i, 1849, known as the Akron Law. The proposition of graded schools carried by a majority of thirty-nine votes. John B. Enness, Lacy Payton, David Gillespie, Dr. Joseph Stableton, David Dunbar and John Parks were elected to carry out the determination of the voters. John McClung was the first teacher employed by this Board at fifty dollars a graded school, in name, and tiot in reali termined by the teachers. From 1856 1 fifteen principals, during which the aver one and one-third school years. The : cipals: John McClung, M. J. Lewis, \ J. Gregg, J. L. Craig, G. W. Herrick, ^ T. Kenyon, J. P. Norris, A. N. Stowell, J. H. Compton, J. F. McColm and Willis it was determined by the Board of Edu graded in fact as well as in name, and t of the Schools, was authorized to outlii adopted, and the course was made twelve High School. In the year 1877, the first High School and graduating exercises w* at the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1880, the citizens decided to ere menced in July and the work was finishe ger, 1880. In December of that year, tendent, and was succeeded by Mr. W. H. G. Pollock was Superintendent in i8< rey was elected Superintendent. On tl Jones was elected Superintendent and s< tion markd a new era in the history ( course of study was modified to meet th« out neglecting the required branches, he and infused a new spirit into the modes ( and Franklin E. Reynolds, who had serv( during the last three years of Mr. J Superintendent. Mr. Reynolds was we charged his duties most admirably. Hn ceeded by Prof. D. S. dinger, the prese Mr. dinger, in his work, has kept it up Jones, and the school has been fully r Jones.

The teachers are as follows: D. S Dening, Principal of High School; M cipal High School ; Nannie Kimball, Naylor, Third Intermediate ; Edna Lee ] abeth Walden, First Intermediate; Luc; Maud Pownall, Third Primary; Cora Puntenney, First Primary, male; AUie

From 1880 until the present time, to twelve departments. There are now ings, well equipped with apparatus, and the commodious building shown in the

The first mill erected in the county was a little ''tub-wheel" built by Nathaniel Massie on Island Creek about two miles from Manchester, Before the completion of this mill, the settlers at Manchester went to Limestone to have their grinding done, or used a small hand-mill at the Stockade. Some of the pioneers pounded their corn into a coarse meal on a block, sifting the larger particles out for hominy. The younger members of the family were kept busy shelling, drying, and pounding, or sometimes grating on the cob, corn for meal, as both processes were slow and laborious.

In 1807 John Ellison built the first brick house in Manchester down near the river bank where the old St. Charles Hotel used to stand. It was the wonder and admiration of all the country round, and Mr. Ellison, recently from the "Emerald Isle," was so pleased with his new dwelling that he took his wife, Mary, in a canoe and paddled over to the Kentucky shore to get the enchantment that distance lends ; and the view was so satisfactory that he exclaimed : "Mollie, it looks more like a palace than a hoose !''

The first steamboat to ply the waters of the Ohio, was the "New Orleans" built at Pittsburgh, and which came down past Manchester in December, 181 1. The next was the "Aetna," early in the spring of 1812. Before- this date pirogues and flatboats were "cordelled" on the waters of the Ohio when ascending the stream. It took four weeks to go by one of these pirogues from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh. Jacob Myers, who owned a fleet of four pirogues, advertised in The Centinel of the Northwest Territory, in 1793, that he would insure passengers on his boats against harm from the Indians, as his crafts were armored and provided with portholes.

On Saturday- morning, November 22, 1856, a negro named William Terry, committed an outrage on Mrs. Morrison, of Manchester, whose husband at the time was absent. Terry was promptly arrested and lodged in jail at West Union. Whea Mr. Morrison returned and learned the facts as to the conduct of the black fiend, the better citizens of the town decided that summary punishment ought to be inflicted on the offender, and on Tuesday the 25th, arrangements were completed to go to West Union to secure Terry to mete out to him deserv^ed punishment. Citizens to the number of over one hundred on horseback accompanied several persons in a wagon to the county seat where court was in session trying Milligan for the murder of the Senter family. They broke down the jail door and secured Terr}' and returned to Manchester by 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After giving the offender a little time to arrange his worldly affairs, he was taken over to Manchester Island, which is under the jurisdiction of. the State of Kentucky, and hanged him to a limb of a large sycamore that stood at the west end near the water's edge next the Ohio shore. His body was cut down and buried at the foot of the tree from which he was hanged, but it is said the remains were exhumed by medical students that night.

Source changes here: from History of Adams County, Ohio, by Evans, Nelson W, published 1900; 4,030 words in this source stream.

History Op Adaus Countt

Manchester was the name of one of the territorial townships formed at the organization of Adams County, September, 1797. It included a part of what is now Tiffin, Oliver, and Scott; all of Winchester, Wayne and Liberty; and, most of Sprigg Township as now constituted, including the present township of Manchester. Its northern limit extended to the Wayne County line north of the site of the city of Columbus.

In the year 1806, the Board of County Commissioners reorganized the townships of the county, and Manchester was subdivided into townships and parts of townships bearing new names, that of Manchester being dropped from the record.

In 1858 a new township named Manchester was formed from Sprigg Township including the town of Manchester. With slight alterations the present township is now as then formed. It includes the incorporated village of Manchester and Manchester Special School District.

Under another chapter in this volume is an account of the first settlement in Adams County, which was made in what is now Manchester Township. Nathanial Massie and his little band of pioneers, whose names are recorded in the narrative above mentioned, were the first settlers. Their cabins were built within the Stockade which occupied a plot of about three acres of ground opposite the west end of the lower, or as now called, Manchester Island. This island, which contains about one hundred acres, was cleared by the residents within the Stockade in the spring of 1791, and the years following down to 1795, and afforded the grain fields for the little colony. In the years 1795 and 1796, many families living in cabins four and five miles back in the woods came to Manchiester to cultivate patches of corn on the island. A grand-daughter of Michael Roush, the pioneer, has often related to the writer that her mother, a daughter of Michael Roush, told her that she and others of the family used to walk from their home in the **Dutch Settlement" in Sprigg Township to Manchester Island to hoe corn the first year they came to Adams County, which was in 1796. It is said that the first cabins built in Manchester outside the Stockade, were those of Nathaniel Massie, Israel Donalson, Isaac Edgington, Job Denning. Andrew Boyd, Andrew Ellison, John Ellison, John McGate, John Kyte, Seth Foster, Joseph Edgington and John Beasley. These were all in the vicinity of the Stockade; most of the terrace where the present site of the town is, was then too swampy for settlement. John McGate or "Megitt," as written in the court records, was the first tavern keeper in Manchester, and his house was the meeting^ place for the officials of the township. (See chapter on Early Taverns and Old Inns.) In the year 1799 Andrew Boyd opened the firet store in Manchester.

Manchester, as has been stated, occupies the whole of Manchester Township. As originally laid out, it contained 108 lots, to which have been made the following additions: West Manchester in 1839, fortyeight lots; Yate's Addition in 1843, sixteen lots; Donalson's Addition to West Manchester in 1849, twenty-4hree lots; Improvement Company's Addition, in 1855, 452 lots; Hill's Addition, 1858, four lots, making in all 651 lots. The town was incoporated in the year 1850. Abraham Perry was the first mayor and Joseph Shriver, the first town marshal. At the time of its incorporation it had a population of 434 inhabitants. In ten years it doubled its population ; and now it enumerates over 2,500 souls.

The first mail route in Ohio crossed Adams County. This was over Zane's Trace from Wheeling to Limestone at which latter place the residents within the present limits of Adams County received their mail. In 1801, a postoffice, the first in the county, was established at Manchester with Israel Donalson postmaster. He served for twelve years when he was succeeded by John Ellison, Jr., the old sheriff of the county who hanged Beckett.

Presbyterian - This organization was formed in 1805 from the Eagle Creek congregation near West Union. The church was incorporated in January, 1814, with Rev. William Williamson, Israel Donalson, William Means, Richard Rounsaville, and John Ellison, Sr., as incorporators. The first church building was erected, it is said, in 1807, and was a log structure which stood on the site of the old cemetery in Manchester. The present brick church was erected in 1845.

Metnodist Protestant - This church was organized in 1869 with twenty-six members. David Pennywitt, leader, and W. H. Pownall, assistant. Stewards: Reuben Pennywitt, L. L. Connor, Joseph Stableton. Trustees: Joseph Connell, Edwin Butler, Isaac Hill.

Roman Catholic - About the year 1889, Michael OTMeil, of Manchester, succeeded after many years of unceasing effort, in having built at Manchester a frame structure dedicated to the use of the Catholic cluirch of which he was a devout member. This is the only church of that denomination ever organized in Adams County, and as there are but few members of that denomination in Manchester and vicinity, there has never been a resident priest in charge of the church.

Dk Kalb Lodge, No. 138, T. O. O. F. - This lodge was instituted at West l^nion, October 13, 1849. ^^'^^^ ^^^ following charter members: David Greenlee, John Harsha. Joseph Hayslip, William M. Meek, and Francis Sliinn. In 1855. it was removed by order of the Grand Lodge to Manchester, and was instituted there July 31, 1856, with nineteen members removed from West Union. The officers elected were: Henr>'

Manchester Lodge, No. 317, F. & A. M. Manchester Lodge, No. 317, was organized under a dispensation granted by Horace M. Stokes, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, dated May 7> 1859, duly empowering the lodge to work the three sjmibolic degrees.