Monroe Township (part 1 of 3)

Monroe Township

MONROE township was organized in 1812, and included a square block in the northwest corner of the county, embracing the present townships of Monroe, Liberty, Bennington and Hartford. In 1815 a line was drawn east and west, through the centre of this square and the north half called Bennington. In 1827 Liberty township was created out of the east half of Monroe, leaving the latter township in its present shape. Under the first organization of Monroe - that is, when it was separated from Granville township - Esquire Moses Foster was the first justice of the peace, and C. U Graves the first constable.

The soil is about the same character as that of St. Albans. The altitude is somewhat greater; the land undulating and sloping to the southeast, is better adapted to grazing than to cereals. In an early day it was well timbered with all varieties of hard wood. It is fairly watered by the Raccoon fork and its tributaries. The head-waters of this stream are in this township.

Few, if any, traces of Mound Builders exist within its limits; but the Wyandot Indians once lived here in considerable numbers. They built a town \ called "Raccoon Town," a mile or more above Johnstown, on Raccoon creek, where they resided until 1807, when Charles and George Green pur- j chased their possessions, and thereafter occupied ' and cultivated the lands. !

The Indians remained some time after this, in the township, except a small number, who erected j a few small huts on, or near, the Brushy fork, not j far from the present boundary line between Me- 1

George W. Evans, generally known as Washington Evans, and Lucy, his wife, came from Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and were the first settlers. Their daughter subsequently married Matthew Clark. Their son, John, ought to be considered the first white child born in the township, but from the necessities of the case, was born at the house of John Evans, a brother of Washington, who lived near St. Louisville.

The Greens who bought out the Wyandotsy were Virginians, and accustomed to frontier life. Mahala Green, daughter of George and Diana Green, bom in the autumn of 1807, was the first white child bom in the township. She subsequently married Bazil Butt. ,

Mrs. George Green, yet living in this township at the age of ninety-two, is the mother of seventeen children, and rejoices in one hundred grandchildren, seventy great-grandchildren, and a num ber of great-great-grandchildren.

A family named Steinmetz, was the fourth family in the township. Elisha Willison and Jacob Baker soon followed, and in 1815 there were about twenty-five families in the township.

In 1813 I)r. Oliver Bigelow, from New York State, who owned the southwest quarter of the township, laid out the town of Johnstown, which, however, until 1815, made little or no progress. In the latter year N. Alden, Henry Hoover. William Sellers and, probably, others made improvements in the town. From that time until 1830, the town and township increased rapidly in population. The town never grew, however, up to the expectation of its founders, and probably there are few if any more people there at the present time than in 1830. Although the houses are mostly strung along on either side of the main highway, the town was laid out in the form of a square with a large public square in the center, as were the towns generally in the county. This square, at present, looks like a vacant field. Trees have, however, been set out around it, which, if cared for, will one day beautify it The census, just completed, makes the population two hundred and seventy-eight. There are five stores of different kinds, three wagon shops, two harness shops and three blacksmith shops.

More than two-thirds of a century this little town has lived without that great civilizer the railroad, but it has come at last The track was recently laid, and although no passenger train has yet made its appearance, construction trains are running, and just now (September, 1880) a neat, little depot building is being completed.

There are six churches in this township. Among the first of these was the Monroe Baptist church, one mile north of Johnstown, organized in 1819, by Rev. George Evans. The original members of this organization were Jacob Baker, Richard Orpret, Washington Evans and wife, M. Hoover, John Clark and Abram Barlow. For ten years services were held in the private dwellings of the members and in the neighboring schoolhouses.

In 1830 the present brick church was erected at a cost of six hundred dollars. Rev. Eli Ashbrook was one of the earliest ministers in this church, serving five years. He was followed by Elders Darrow, Berry, Gildersleeve and Lyman. Rev. Hanover is present pastor. The present membership is twelve.

The Baptist church of Johnstown was organized in 1839, by F. R. Freeman. The original members were William Beers, Eli Pratt, James Hoover, Simeon DeWolf, F. R. Freeman, John Clark, Julius Freeman, John French, William Gisesell, Mary Peck, Irene Baker, Eva Violet, Lucy Morgan, Anna Crosby, Betsey Morgan, Elizabeth Dolph, Lavina Beers, Rebecca Best, Mary Clark, Minerva Hoover, Mary Downing, Rachel Phillips, Barbara Shoemaker, and Annetta Baker.

Among the early pastors of this church were Elders Griswold, Sedgwick, Macy and Miller. The present pastor is D. W. Fields; the present membership, thirty.

The Methodist Episcopal church, known as Monroe Chapel, was organized in 1837, in a school-house, in which the services were held until the erection of the present church, in 1840. The organization was effected principally through the influence of Uriah Heath, and the original members were Joseph B. Crammer, John Robison, Henry Heckathorn, Thomas Leitew, William Miller and Mr. Cole.

The church is a weak one at present, numbering about six members; but a good Sabbath-school is sustained, with a membership of thirty-five; this was established about the time the church was erected.

The first Presbyterian church of Johnstown, was organized July 15, 1837, by Joseph Matthews. A few of the original members were David Conway, John Follett and Henry LeDuc. A church was erected in the same year in which the organization was effected, costing about one thousand two hundred dollars. The church is not a strong one, having, at present, but twelve members. The pastor is Edward Garland.

Methodist Episcopal church of Johnstown. - This is among the oldest in the township, having been organized in 1820 by the well known Russel Bigelow, who, at that time, had charge of the Columbus circuit Mr. Bigelow organized many of the early Methodist churches in Central Ohio.

Charles Green and their wives constituted the first members of this organization. The first Methodist meeting was held in Peter Stephen's tavern, and for five years this society held meetings at private houses and the school-house. In 1825, their first church edifice was erected. It was a small frame, and cost about three hundred dollars. In 1842, a quarterly meeting was held in Jacob Foulk's new barn, at which thirty persons united with the church, and much interest was manifested. A new church was erected this year at a cost of about one thousand dollars. Both of these church buildings are yet standing; the first being used as a dwelling. Russel Bigelow ministered to this church during its early years. The present pastor is F. S. Thurston. The church records show a membership of fifty-four.

forty, including scholars and teachers. George Fouik is superintendent. Jacob Foulk and wife, who are yet living, were very early members of this church. They are pioneers, and are now looking back through the mists of something more than eighty years.

The United Brethren in Christ - This church was organized in 1863, by Rev. William McDaniels, assisted by Silas Priest, Benjamin Clouse, Benjamin Green, Joseph Smith and Elisha Green. They held meetings in what is known as the Kaw school-house, the first few years, and, in 1866, erected the present church edifice. It is a neat, substantial building, and cost one thousand one hundred dollars. At present the membership is sixty-seven. The organization of the Sunday school was coeval with that of the church, and now embraces sixty-three members.

Chapter Lxv

Should e'er 1 come to write your books, why I Would search among the quaint and dusty tombs While the selfish world sought pleasure and repose."

WITHIN the limits of this township are located some of the most astonishing, as well as the most complete and complicated works of the Mound Builders. The immediate vicinity of Newark seems to have been a sort of headquarters, or great central city. Newark, indeed, is built upon the ruins of the works of this mysterious people, many mounds having been leveled to make way for streets and buildings, and the city has extended into the great works, of which a cut is here given.

This drawing is taken from a survey by David Wyrick, in i860, and gives a faithful outline of the Old Fort, and the connecting works within a radius of one milq. The outlying works are nearly obliterated, with the exception of some of the parallel lines and the Octagon fort and its connecting circle. The larger circle in the drawing marked "thirty acres," represents the most prominent and best preserved of all this series of worksf and is now owned and used by the Licking County Agricultural society; its preservation being thus assured.

The portions of the cut represented by a square, and parts of the lines of an oblong, are nearly obliterated by the growth of the city of Newark in that direction.

The whole plain between the South and Raccoon forks of Licking river, and covering an area of several square miles, bears tracesoj occupation by the "lost race." It is evident from the remains here found, that this section was densely populated, and the character of the works, too, bear out the assumption that this people passed through the different stages of existence that fail to the changing experience of nations at the present day.

The following description of the Old Fort is probably the most accurate as to measurements and other particulars yet given, being the result of actual surveys made by Colonel Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland, and Isaac Smucker, esq., of Newark : i

-'The Old Fort is situated 9 mile and a half in a southwesterly direction from the court house in Newark, and belongs to the class of Mound Builders' works known as inclosures. It is not a true circle, the respective diameters being eleven hundred and fifty, and twelve hundred and fifty feet. Its banks, nearly a mile in length, were formed by throwing up the earth from the inside, which left a ditch of sloping sides, ten feet (in many places more) in depth, and ranges, in perpendicular height, measuring from bottom of ditch to top of bank, from twenty to thirty feet. This inclosure, which embraces within it about twenty-seven acres of land, was constructed on level ground, and the ditch above described was often seen, during the earlier decades of the present century, partially, and sometimes wholly, filled with water all around the circle. From some cause it has not held water of late years to any great extent. Viewed from the outside, the embankment does not rise more than ten to fifteen feet above the surface of the surrounding ground, but observed from its top, the eye taking in the depth of the ditch, it seems, of course, much higher, so as to correspond in height, at least, to the figures above given.

"The Old Fort has an entrance or gateway, which is flanked by a high bank or parapet on either side of it, running outward forty yards. The gateway and parallel walls or parapets are on the eastern side of the circle, and the ditch which follows it also extends to the termination of the parallel banks that cover the entrance. Here the banks are highest; the parallel walls, as well as those which form the circle immediately adjoining them at the gateway, reaching, for a short distance, a perpendicular height of at least thirty feet, measuring from the bottom of the ditch, or twenty feet, measuring on the outside. The gateway or entrance measures seventy-five feet between the ditches or moats, and between the parapets or banks of earth that flank the entrance, one hundred and thirty feet.

"Trees of a large size are still growing upon the banks, all around the circle, as well as upon the parallel walls at the entrance. They are equal in size to those that are yet found both on the outside of the inclosure and within it, and of the same varieties. Some of them measuie ten feet in circumference and are still thrifty, giving no indications of decay. One of the largest trees that stood on this embankment was cut down in 1815, and its concentric circles showed that it had attained to the venerable age of five hundred and fifty years. Many others of its cotemporaries, too, are still flourishing and enjoying an equally vigorous 'green old age.' This fact may be borne in mind as indicating the antiquity of this wonderful woik, especially when taken in connection With the strong probability that this tree, of now more than six centuries ago, was more likely of the second or third growth of trees than of the first, after the Mound Builders had erected this inclosure, which is only one of the extensive series of labyrinthine works, whose embankments measure many miles in length, and which, by low parallel banks, were connected w'ith others of similar character, as remote from them as are those of the Hock-Hocking and other distant places.

"In the middle of the Old Fort is an elevation, evidently artificial, which never fails to attract the attention of the observing, and is generally designated as Eagle mound. It is full six feet high, and is in the form and shape of an eagle in flight, with wings outspread, measuring from tip to tip two hundred and forty feet, and from head to tail two hundred and ten feet, and is clearly of the effigy class of the works of the Mound Builders. It faces the entrance, and therefore lies in an east and west direction, its wings extending north and south. Excavations made many years ago igto the center of this earthen figure, where the elevation is greatest, developed an altar built of stone, upon which were found ashes, charcoal and calcined bones, showing that it had been u&d for sacrificial purposes.

" Many have held the opinion that the Old Fort was a military work, constructed for defence, but its location on a level plain, its symmetrical form and inside ditch, and the indications of the presence of fire, seen on the altar, and its sacrificial uses, so clearly suggested, all go to render this opinion to be erroneous, or, to say the least, one highly improbable. All the known facts pertaining to it go to raise the presumption that within this inclosure were conducted by Mound Buiders, the rites and ceremonies of their religion, they having manifestly been a religious and superstitious race, given to the practice of offering up human as well as animal sacrifices.

"Others have believed that the Old Fort was the seat of government of the Mound Builders, and that their monarch re. sided here; and still others have held that within this jnclosure they practiced their national games and amusements, similar, possibly, to the Olympic, Nemean, Pythean, and Isthmian games that were so universally popular with the enlightened Greeks during the 'Lyrical age of Greece.' Others still, hold different opinions, but I think the weight of evidence is altogether in favor of the theory that the Old Fort, one of the most renowned of all the Mound Builders' works, was constructed for the uses of a sacred inclosure, and was, therefore, primarily built and used for purposes connected with their religion ; albeit it may also have been their seat of government, and residence of their monarch ; and may, possibly, also have been sometimes used for the practice of their national games. Least likely of all is the notion that it was constructed for military purposes, or was ever used as a defensive work.

One of the most astonishing and incomprehet sible things about this great earthwork is the ditch inside of it. This, as Mr. Smucker says, is yet tec feet deep, and is, probably, fifteen or twenty fee wide at the top. If it were not for the immense trees that yet stand on the embankment, one would be inclined to place the construction of this work within the last century, from the fact that other wise this ditch should have long since disappeared, having been filled, by the yearly drift of leaves, etc, to the surface of the ground. When the fact is considered that this ditch has stood in the mkk of the forest for centuries, and has thus been a safe receptacle for the yearly fall of leaves that would naturally drift into it, that the storms of centuries have been washing its banks, that as Mr. Smucker says, water once stood a good portion of the year in it, with its relaxing and dissolving tendencies, the absorbing questions are, how deep must this ditch have been at first, and what tools could the workmen have used to raise the dirt to such a height, and for what purpose was it constructed, why, especially, was it made so deep?

Supposing that from all the causes above enumerated, the ditch had filled one inch per year for six hundred years; even that would give it a depth of fifty feet at first. It would seem more probable that it would fill five or six inches every year, instead of one inch; and it is thought these worts are a thousand years old instead of six hundred This being true, would make this ditch very much deeper, and only increases the mystery that already surrounds these works. Here is an opportunity for scientific investigation that should not be lost. A shaft sunk in the bottom of this ditch would probably reveal its original depth.

The immensity of these works is truly wonderful and awe-inspiring. The stranger visiting them for the first time can only look and wonder. The pyramids of Egypt are counted among the "seven wonders of the world," but in what particular are they so much more wonderful than this earthwork? Both are equally mysterious and incomprehensible

THe "Eagle Mound" in the center of this indosure, is somewhat disappointing at first sight, and does not appear to have much resemblance to an eagle. It more resembles the shape and form of a honey-bee, and might more appropriately have been called the "Honey-Bee mound." The wings are not pointed, like those of a bird, but circular, like those of a bee, and the body is shaped much like that of the (bee. Samuel Park, esq., thus writes concerning these works:

- ' Mr. Atwater says that many of the writers on these antiquities never saw the works themselves, or if they did, it was only from some public conveyance in hasty flight through the country; and consequently they know nothing about them, and their representations are not reliable. This, no doubt, in some instances is true. But those newspaper correspondents, and other persons seeking literary renown, are not the only persons chargeable with having arrived at conclusions, and published opinions, based upon observations quite too superficial. Mr. Atwater himself, with all his care, is not safe from this charge, for in his report on the antiquities of Licking county, though he made a personal survey of them, seems to have but little knowledge of their extent and diversity of character. He gives us very correct diagrams of a portion of the works in Cherry Valley, and speaks of one or two mounds, south of Newark, and some pits below Newark, and south of Licking river. These he calls the works in Licking county, while they constitute but a very small proportion of them. He also says these works are situated on an elevated plain, . forty or fifty feet above the alluvium or creek bottoms, and generally forty feet above the country around it, while in fact, they are situated on a low plain, not more than forty or fifty feet above the present worn channels of the stream, and nearly surrounded by high hills, on which are but little, if any, less than one hundred mounds that look down upon that valley, or plain, and its works, none of which does it appear that Mr. Atwater had any knowledge of. Besides this, those works extend nearly or quite all over the county, and east into Muskingum and Coshocton counties, south into Perry and Fairfield counties, and west into Franklin county; and I doubt not, if carefully examined, would be found in a continuous line to the Mississippi. If their builders did not constitute one great nation or kingdom, they constituted several large cities, with extensive country surroundings, and enjoyed such fraternal relations wtth each other as to leave no trace of the lines of division, or any marks of discord or bloody wars. But on the contrary, they have left us an abundance of monumental testimony that there has been a well arranged and thoroughly organized civil government. I do not hesitate to express the opinion that the great mass ot those antiquities are the monuments of peace, and not of war, as is generally supposed. My reason for this opinion is, their want of adaptation to military purposes.

- ' Nearly all the circumvallations, or forts, so called, are constructed with the moat, or ditch, inside of the wall, and many of them are very small, ranging from one to two hundred feet in diameter, and of easy approach at any and all points on the outside. Now to call such works military fortifications, is not only absurd, but'supremely ridiculous. I care not what principle of warfare you may assign to these Mound Builders, or what weapons they may have used, whether the primitive sling, the bow and arrow, the javelin, the dart, the sword, or cutlass, or any kind of explosive weapons. For any, or all of these, they were useless, as places of security, or for defence. It was a common custom, among the ancient nations of the earth, to carefully guard the lives and dignity of their rulers, by prohibiting the promiscuous approach of their subjects. This is still the case with some nations; it is done in various ways; the most common is by military guards, who were chosen with reference to their good will and attachment to the person or thing to be guarded. But in the great city of the Assyrian empire (Babylon) the palace of the ruling prince, though protected from the approach of enemies by the great wall of the city, was also protected from the near approach of his own people by three additional strong walls surrounding the palace within the city. It was much the same with the Jews, although they were the chosen people of God, and reputed to be the righteous nation of the earth, and were entrusted with the secrets of Jehovah, which when unfolded by the fullness of time were to become a blessing to the world, still they could not be trusted to govern themselves by their moral sensibilities, but were limited in their approaches to their own sacred tabernacle and their Great temple, by the outer courts which surrounded them. But we need not name isolated cases, for the principle has been common to all ages. If any of us to-day were to attempt to visit St. Peter's at Rome; the Mosque of Omar, at Jerusalem; the Palace of Napoleon, in France, or of Victoria, in England, we should find them all strictly guarded. Just so with the ancient people that erected these American antiquities, they understood human nature well enough, to know that it was better to spend money, and labor to maintain the peace and dignity of their government, by guarding against trouble, than to spend it to quell insurrection. Hence these numerous monuments of their wisdom and greatness spread all over our lands. And it is left for us, without the aid of letters to study the theory of their government from these mute relics of a pre-historic age.

"My own theory in regard to these strange works has been shadowed forth in what I have already said. I have told you I looked upon them as the monuments of peace and not of war. The circumvallations, or inclosures of what ever form are the outer-courts of seals of royalty, and of temples of worship, and inclosures of magazines or public stores, of public parks, or pleasure grounds while others were for athletic exercises and other public games. Wo find the works varied in their character, and well adapted to these several uses. Those whose nature indicate the location of seals of royalty, or of temples of worship, are so constructed that the outside multitude could easily approach to within a suitable distance to offer their adulation to the princes, or their adoration to the gods, and witness the sacrificial offerings of the priests in the temples, yet the deep moat inside of the wall guarded those sacred precincts from the press of an enthusiastic or a sacreligious multitude. The same may be said as to the adaptation of those whose nature and location indicate other uses, whether for pleasure or for the proteclio n o public stores. In some places these works are numerous and expensive, and indicate a crowded state of society, or rather a large city population. The works gradually grow more sparse as they recede from these apparently central points, but with occasional minor clusters that indicate the location and protection of subordinate rulers, the location of magazines, etc., yet we find no signs of discord or of separate independence. Such a great central city do we think once occupied the hills and valleys of Licking, and centered on Cherry valley.

"To the greater part of the mounds we assign the character of watch-towers and signal stations, from which the watchmen kept a constant look-out and, by concerted signals, could report any incipient move towards insurrection or insubordination to the laws, as well as to announce the signs of the times, or the approach of danger from the elements, or from any other source. The location of these mounds not only indicate such a use, but is such as to greatly facilitate such a mode of communication with rapidity and certainty. The idea of such an attache to the government as a watchman is not novel, for such an office was common among the primitive oriental governments, and judging from the writings of Isaiah and Ezekiel, they were found among the J ews at a later date than that of the erection of these American antiquities. In an age when letters were unknown, watchmen, and such a system of signal communications, were of great importance in the government of a large tribe or nation. There are in some places, usually on level plains, many small mounds that were doubtless erected as tumuli for the distinguished dead, while there are others that seem to combine several uses. But the greater portion of the scattered mounds were, doubtless, for the use we have assigned them, and constituted a system of communication extending from the center to the circumference of the kingdom, equaled only by the modern telegraph. These watchmen were doubtless among the learned men of the nation or tribe, and their position an honorable and an honored one in the kingdom, for they must have constituted the principal medium of communication between the different and distant portions of the kingdom. Having been educated for this special office, it was probably held for life, and I should not think it incredible to suppose that vaults may have been prepared in the base of their watch-towers to receive their mortal remains, after having been worn out in the service of their country, that they might, after death, continue to enjoy a relation to their honored position in life. This may account for the few human bones found in some of those scattered tumuli.

"The mathematical skill manifest in the construction of some of these works, as well as the fine topographical engineering shown in the location of these signal mounds, indicate a pretty high degree of culture, for that age of the world, and. I think, conclusive evidence that they were not erected by the ancestors of our native Indians, as it is not probable that they ever advanced beyond the hunter-grade of civilization in which we found them, while our Mound Builders must have been much in advance of this. These signal mounds are not always found on the highest hills, but where they will command the most complete view of the whole land, whether below or above their location, and where they can be seen by the greatest number of other mounds, by views through valleys, or between distant hilltops. This feature is an important one, and cannot be the result of accident. On the contrary, it shows a careful economy in locating them, so as to attain the object of their erection with the least amount of labor possible. This would have been needless had their design been other than that we have assigned them. They would, in many instances, have much better suited the theory of 'worship in high places,' or of 'monuments for the dead,' if they had been differently situated from that in which we find them. We, in one instance, found a mound on an offset or table on the hillside, where it commanded the view of an adjacent valley that could not have been seen from the top of the hill, while there was none on the hill-top, seventy-five feet above the plain or level table on which the mound was situated. And yet this mound was but little less conspicuously situated in its relation to the other mounds than if it had been on the top of the hill. Again, the size of these 'tumuli' are, to a considerable extent, governed by the nature of the ground on which they are located. On high, narrow pointed, natural elevations, they are much less than when the hill-top presents a broad, level surface, also, on gently undulating plains they are larger and taller than when situated on the hills or on smooth plains. Another feature that I have noticed is : that their number is governed by the character of the face of the country where they are situated. On rough, broken lands they are numerous, while on smooth plains they are few. Still, where they are found at all* they are found in sufficient numbers to overtook the whole surface of the land. In our prairies of eastern Illinois, there arebci few, except along the banks of the Wabash, but the few found away from the larger streams are generally large and tall, and so situated as to overlook a large district of country. Now, we would ask, why all this kind of discrimination, if their primary object had been of a military character, or for altars far sacrifices, or as monuments for the distinguished dead?

" In fact, such a theory is irreconcilable with the human understanding of the nature and relation of things. The mind must be educated to such theories before it can see any thing m these works to justify them, that these ancient Americans, like the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians. Assyrians, Chinese, and other original tribes or nations, may have been superstitious in some things, and behind the present age in the arts and sciences, may be quite true, but that is no reason why we should attribute to them intellectual inconsistencies that would sink them below the wild tribes, that roved through our forests when first found by the people of Europe. How many of us can give a rational account of the original design of the pyramids of Egypt? We may think we know, but with an unbroken chain of history reaching nearly back to the probable period of their erection, we still know but little about them ; yet they are there, and were erected by the most learned nation of that age.

"There are at least eight forts or circum vacations in the county that I know of, that are not noticed by any of those writers, except three mentioned by Mr. Smucker, and there cannot be less than three hundred mounds that are not noticed at all ; yet when they are viewed as a whole, they present a very different feature than when seen in isolated parts, though these parts may have been the most prominent portion of the works. They must be examined from the center to the circumference and the relation of the several parts to the whole, as well as the scientific harmony of those relations, must be studied to fully comprehend their use. Let any person that is well acquainted with the face of the country inform himself as to the locatios of fifty or one hundred of these scattered mounds in Uckicg county, and then let him ascend a few of them and imagine the timber all removed, and he will be astonished at the harmony of their relations. Nearly all will seem to be in plain view from almost every point. And, further, that nearly all seem to hare been built with reference to the works in Cherry valley as a comman center. Cherry valley is that part of Licking valley, west of the city of Newark, that lies between the Pataskah and the Raccoon branches of the Licking river, extending from their junction up the Pataskala to the mouth of Auter creek, and up Raccoon creek some three miles to the range of bills dividing the Raccoon and.Auter creek valleys. It is a beautiful plain, the soil is gravelly but very fertile. It embraces about three thousand acres of land, and lies nearly in the shape of ac equilateral triangle. On this plain are situated several of the largest and most singular artificial works to be found in the country. The principal one of these (so called) fortifications which contains about thirty acres of land, is owned and occn- pied by the Licking County Agricultural society, and the place where they hold their annual fairs. This part of the valley seems to constitute a central point in the extensive cluster of works lying in this and adjoining counties.

''After becoming satisfied in my own mind, by observations from various elevated points, that the arrangement and location of the works of Licking would justify the theory that Cherry valley was the central point, whence radiated the power that controlled and gave vitality to this great city, whose inhabitants perhaps numbered but little less than the present population of the whole State, this' beautiful valley and its works began to as* sume an importance in this field of antiquities that I never had thought of before, though familiar with its curious works all my life. Now every antique artificial feature about it became an object of importance, that might have wrapped up in it volumes of valuable history. Not having found anything in 'Alligator mound' that I thought would justify the idea of its being considered an object of idolatrous worship, and having found the triangle in several of these artificial works, which is an ancient symbol of the true God, I concluded to again visit the great work owned by the agricultural society, and examine ' Eagle mound. ' I went there without any doubts about finding the representation of an eagle spread out on the surface in the center of the area enclosed by these great walls. But when I came to examine its form and proportions, I could not see the 'eagle* nor anything that would justify the idea that the mound was ever intended to represent any living thing. It could not have been intended to represent a bird, because there is neither head, neck, or tail, and the wings do not taper towards the points, but on the contrary are even larger towards the extreme ends. The abdominal dimensions are much too large to be in proportion with the other parts. While the Alligator mound below Granville strikes conviction to the minds of all that see it, even at first sight, that it was intended to represent the great American crocodile, it cannot but require a great stretch of the imagina* tion, to find any animal characteristics whatever in this so-called 'Eagle mound.' At least, such were my impressions; my feelings would have harmonized much better with the idea of call ing it a representation of a man, in the act of swimming, without any legs, which it might be said to represent pretty fairly.

I do not think that it was intended to represent any thing of the kind; but on the contrary, that it is the ruins of a massive temple, or palace of a ruling prince, ^hat had been erected with* perishable material, such as unbumt brick.

"The main part of it appears to have been about fifty by one hundred and eighty feet, with vestibule and tower in front, and wings extending to the right and left some sixty feet in length from the main building. The wings fall back some twenty to twenty-five degrees from a right angle with the main building, and probably had towers at the extreme ends. This is indicated by the larger pile of earth at the end of the wings. My reasons for calling this the ruin of a large building are, first - its form being that of a large building, with wings to the right and left, and vestibule and tower in front, and second, its situation ; it being a little in the rear of the center from the great gate of the court that surrounds it, and fronting the entrance, or gate, of the court, just as 1 think a skilful draughtsman of any age would place such a building to be in harmony with its surroundings. In the thiid place, its materials; all the plain on which these works in Cherry valley are situated, is full of gravel, or pebble M, even to the surface, and the walls of the court that surround it are of the same character, while the mound, or ruin, is composed of good brick-day, free from gravel, and foreign to anything to be found in this vicinity. There is also another slight elevation of this same kind of clay outside of the court. It is situated to the right of the road, leading from the gate of fhe court towards the Pataskala, or South fork of Licking river, and indicates the former existence of a block of buildings, or guard houses, that extended some three or four hundred feet from the walls of the court, to, and beyond the site where the trustees are preparing to erect a hotel building for the use of the park. This bed of clay is from twelve to sixteen inches deep, resting on gravel, while but a few feet from it the gravel is found to come to the surface. This debris, lying, as it does, by the side of the passway to the only entrance to this royal court, and between the parallel walls, that jt is generally believed were erected to protect the passway from this sacred precinct to the river, is strongly suggestive of the location of a series of guard houses, to prevent the promiscuous entrance of improper persons to this well guarded seat of royalty."

It would be impossible, at this day, even were it necessary or desirable, to locate all the earthworks and mounds within the limits of Newark township. The Cherry valley seems to have been literally filled with them, and they were thickly placed over a broad territory, including the site of the city of Newark and much of the Raccoon valley, while, as Mr. Park says, there are a hundred or more mounds on the surrounding hills that overlooked this grea( mound city in this valley.

There is a mound within a short distance of the court house that is passed by scores of people, daily, on their way to and from business, that is scarcely noticed. It is located in the old cemetery on Sixth street, and^is eight or ten feet in height, and, perhaps, twenty-five or thirty feet in diameter. Some one has used it for a burying ground, and erected a monument over their dead on its side. t The fact of its being inclosed within the cemetery has preserved it from destruction by the plow.

A curious group of mounds that attracted the attention and wonder of the pioneers, were unfortunately destroyed by the building of the Central Ohio railroad. They were not far from the Old Fort, and stood just at the foot of Cherry valley, and a little east of the Ohio canal, where the above mentioned railroad crosses it. Three of these mounds stood in a line north and south ; the fourth was a little east and between the two northern ones. They were all joined together at the base. In the destruction of this remarkable group of mounds, many interesting relics and facts were unearthed that appear worth preservation. The mound far- thest south was included in the embankment of the Central Ohio railroad, and was first destroyed. The other three were greatly injured by the earth being taken to make the railroad embankment The northern mound was the largest, and was about twenty feet high. This was finally leveled to form a site for a rolling mill. The upper eight feet of this* mound was composed almost entirely of black loam, which appeared in layers. These layers or strata had seams where the earth did not unite, although it appeared to be of the same character. Between these layers there were often marks of fire; and in one place, from four to six inches extending across the mound, there were strong marks of fire, with charcoal and ashes. The different layers of earth did not often pass all over the mound - sometimes not over more than a fourth of it, and often overlapped each other at the edges. It would seem that these layers of earth were put on at cpnsiderable intervals of time, first on one side and then on the other, the different sides of the mound varying in structure. In the upper eight feet of this mound no human or other bones were ' found. Seyeral fine sheets of mica were taken out. A hole near the center was observed to continue down very near to the bottom of the mound. In some places this was filled with sand, differing from the earth around it. In the lower eight feet of the mound quite a number of these perpendicular holes were observed. One on the east side was filled with fine charcoal and ashes, and extended fully four feet below the surrounding surface of the earth. The whole base of this mound was of disturbed earth, four or more feet below the surrounding surface. Some six or eight of these post holes were discovered, but none but the center one continued for more than a few feet. They were mostly filled with fine sand. About one half of the lower portion of the mound was made of layers of blue clay; then there was a layer of sand, followed by one of cobble stone, which appeard to be immediately over a strong burning. This layer of stone was about five feet from the base. In the middle mound the layer of cobble stone was about eight feet from the base, was in the center of the mound, sixteen inches thick, and extended all over it, thinning out toward the edges. The cobble stone, in all places, seemed to be put on immediately over the burning, none of the stones having the marks of fire, except those coming in contact with the burnt earth. The heat of the fire must have been intense, for the small stones in places were quite friable, and in places strongly marked with oxide of iron. This iron appearance led many to think that iron tools might have been placed there and rusted out.

In the fourth mound the cobble stones were placed over burnings and on a level with the surrounding surface, and covered with creek sand The blue clay in the northern mound must have been brought from a distance, there being none near like it.

About three feet below the surrounding surface of the earth, and near the bottom of the large mound, the workmen, in digging the pit for the flywheel, found several pieces of bones and a part of the lower jaw of a human being with one tooth yet remaining in it All the bones gave evidence of great age, and were in small pieces.

The cobble stone layers in these mounds and the postholes are unusual features. Could the latter have been for a frame work, from which to suspend victims for sacrifice?

Surrounding this entire group of mounds was a cobble stone way, about eight feet wide. This is yet plainly to be seen north of the railroad, but the remainder has been destroyed. This oblong circle of stone must have been one hundred yards in its north and south diameter, and sixty-six yards east and west. Within sight of this gronp of mounds were originally about one dozen. Many of these have been destroyed. The digging of the pit for the fly-wheel revealed the lower portion of this mound, better than examination heretofore made, and showed plainly that human beings had been buried at least four feet beneath the surrounding surface of the earth.

The greater portion of these mounds being composed of sand and loam may account for the paucity of bones found in them. The best preserved skeletons are found where the ground is mostly clay.

Indians buried their dead in and about these mounds; but these burials were thought to be easily distinguishable from those of the Mound Builders.

In 1827, while digging the Ohio canal, a small mound was dug out where the second lock now stands. Many human bones were found similar to those in the group above mentioned.

Several skeletons were found buried near these mounds, which were, no doubt, those of Indians, the bones indicating no great age, and having copper implements buried with them. Near one was found two copper quivers for arrows, and a large shell, which had apparently been used as a drinking cup. , Another small skeleton had by its side a quiver for arrows and a copper hatchet, with beads and other trinkets. These Indians and Mound Builders appeared to have two things in common; one is the copper implements, and the other the sheets of mica. .This latter is found in their mounds and mixed with their pottery. The small Indian skeleton referred to above was partly covered with mica, some of it adhering to the bones. Another skeleton was found covered with arge sheets of mica ; at least half a peck of mica with the bones were brought to town; this, at the time, was supposed to be the remains of an Indian. All the copper yet found in the mounds in this region has been native, unsmelted.

According to some antiquarians these mounds would be called sacrificial or altar mounds, but the truth is that most, if not all, in this vicinity, are of a similar character, and might, with the same propriety, be called sacrificial, for, as a general thing, a skeleton, or sometimes two or three side by side are found, covered with earth, then evidences of fire, then another skeleton covered in the same way, and so on; but these skeletons and evidences of fire do not extend regularly over the mound. Sometimes a skeleton and a burning will be found only on one side, and then again on the other, at a different elevation; but almost always in every mound is found one grand burning extending all over the mound, as if there had been a grand ceremony for the benefit of all those buried beneath. In the large mound above mentioned there were two of these general burnings. Sometimes human bones are found with the marks of fire, indicating the probability of human sacrifice.

Chapter Lxvi

Its Indian History - Organization-Topography - Streams - Ponds and Stagnant Waters - The First Race Course - Depth of Soil - An Unhealthy District - Dr. Wilson's Contribution on the Early Diseases and Their Treatment.

BUT little, if any, Indian history connected with this township has been preserved. A few temporary camps are remembered, and that they roved freely through these beautiful valleys, hunted, fished and paddled their canoes along these wild and pretty streams ; sang their war songs, danced their war dances, fought, loved, married, ate, drank and died, is not doubted. They have left behind them history enough from which to glean this much, however worthless it may be. They seem to have been a worthless race, hence, in the economy of the univerce, they must perish to give place to those who develop and make better use of Nature's unlimited resources.

son, deputy surveyor under Rufus Putnam, then surveyor general of the United States. It is number two, range twelve, and contains sixteen thousand four hundred and thirty-eight and nine-tenth acres. Number one, or the northeast quarter of the township or section was located by John Rathbone, and contains four thousand two hundred and eighteen and nine. tenth acres. This section was sold to Colonel Benjamin Wilson of Clarksburgh, Virginia, and has since been known as the "Wilson section." Quarter township number two, is the northwest section, and was located by George Jackson. It contains four thousand acres. Section number three is the southwest quarter, and was located by Adam Harborson. It contains four thousand acres, and is called the Cherry Valley section. Number four is the town section, and was located by J. A. Cummin^ and John and George W. Burnet. It contains four thousand two hundred and twenty acres.

There were many acts of Congress touching the manner of disposing of the unoccupied lands of the United States military tract, of which this township was a part, up to 1812, when the land department was reorganized; but none of them had any effect on this township, for the sections had all been located very early.

Nearly the whole of this township lies in a sort of funnel-shaped basin, with the neck toward the Licking Narrows. It is watered by the North fork of Licking, which enters the township from the north, near the center of its northern line, and passing southeast joins the main stream near its eastern border; and by the South fork of Licking, which forms the southeastern line of the township to within a few miles of Newark,, joining the North fork within the city limits, and by the Raccoon fork, which coming from the west, thrugh Granville township, passes across this township a little south of its center, and joins the South fork within the city limits. In addition to these streams, which are all of good size, Ramp creek crosses the southern part of the township, emptying its waters into the South fork, within its limits; and numerous smaller streams, tributaries of those named, cross the township in different directions.

bottom lands widen out abruptly. The highlands north of the city run nearly at right angles with the Licking river, forming the east bank of the North fork, and the highlands south forming the east bank of the South fork. This area of apparently level land, extends up the North fork to the mouth of Brushy fork, thence west and south along the base of the Welsh hills to Licking summit at the South fork, and down that stream to Newark. This constitutes the body of the "funnel", and contains twenty-five thousand acres of excellent land, that one would suppose, from a glance over it, was almost level; yet from its western terminus to the "Black Hand" there is a fall of at least one hundred and forty feet in this distance of twelve miles.

It will be observed that in almost every part there are gentle terraces downward, to all the various streams making all the surface of very easy drainage. The highlands north and south of Newark appear to be the western terminus of the great coal fields which extend to the Alleghanies. This large basin, or area of comparatively level land, in which Newark is situated, was once, like the bottom lands of the Licking, covered with a dense forest, and undergrowth of bushes and wild vines ; and on account of the numerous and rapid streams which centered in this valley, large quantities of drift wood blocked the streams and lay piled in every con ceivable shape and direction causing the waters to overflow and inundate a great portion of this basin whenever there was an unusually heavy fall of rain. When the floods subsided large pools of stagnant water were left here and there, which were the cause of much sickness among the early settlers. Perhaps in no other portion of the township was this so obviously the cause of sickness as in the vicinity of Log-pond run. About one and va half miles northwest of Newhrk, this little stream, passing through this level ground, became obstructed, and spread over about thirty acres of woodland, causing the large timber to die and fall down, thus covering this large area with fallen timber, which could only be traversed by footmen walking on the logs. This was called the "log pond," and gave name to the stream. A little further north was another pond, clear of trees, called the "Goose pond," which covered seventy-five or eighty acres at times, and was a famous resort for ild geese and ducks. These ponds were parally drained about 1817. There was another irge pond directly west of Newark, which contined to exist at a much later date. It covered :>rty or fifty acres, and was called the "Big 'rairie," being mostly clear of timber. It was full f muskrat houses, flags and grass. This pond i as a somewhat remarkable one. It was dry in 805 ; corn had been raised on it by some of the irst settlers, and it was used in the fall of that ear for a race-course; the posts where the judges lad their station remained standing on the east ide, where the water was afterward several feet leep. It gave rise to much speculation among he settlers, who were unable to account for the act that some seasons, when there was abundance >f rain, the pond would nearly dry up; and again n other very dry seasons, the pond would be full >f water. Regarding this, Dr. J. N. Wilson, from vhose article this topographical matter is mainly aken, says : " My attention was called to the dryng up of this pond one summer soon after the vater was let into the canal for the first time. 3 wing to the character of the sub-soil in most of his region, which is made up mostly of loose 'ravel and sand, the water percolated through it, illing up the wells and cellars all along the canal n its vicinity, but as the bottom became puddled he percolation ceased. Recollecting this fact, and remembering that the previous fall had been very dry, followed by a very cold winter which caused the water to be frozen to a great depth, thereby effectually breaking up the puddling at the bottom of the pond, at once explained to my mind the disappearance of the water the following spring and summer. There was no stream of water running into or out of this pond. It was located just north of the old fort."

There is another fact which, no doubt, had a great influencetin retaining in this funnel-shaped basin the poisonous miasms formed in it. The highlands, as above described, forming the sides of the basin, were covered with very lofty trees, principally oak, with a dense undergrowth, mingled in many places with spruce and other evergreens, which came to the very edge of the Licking river, and in many places the tops of these large trees nearly came together from the opposite sides of the stream, thus forming a complete barrier to the winds, and damming up, as it were, the outlet of this funnel. This obstruction was not greatly disturbed until the construction of the Ohio canal, and subsequently by the building of the Ohio Central & Steubenville railroads. The quarrying of stone and the clearing of the forests has at last made a complete outlet for the winds, which may now sweep freely through this passage and give complete ventilation to the basin above. This has no doubt played an important part in improving the health of this great basin. The cultivation of the soil, the drainage of the ponds, the clearing away of the drift-wood from the streams, and the building of good houses, and other comforts, have converted this once sickly locality into a region as healthy and beautiful as can be found in the State.

The alluvial as well a diluvial deposit is by. no means of uniform depth in this basin. It may be a hundred feet in places to the bottom, yet in others, as where the Central Ohio railroad crosses the Licking river, the original rock comes to the surface; and again two miles up the North fork the rock appears. The great amount of decomposible matter contained in this gravelly plateau has disappointed many in their estimates of the durability of the soil for tillage. The very early settlers feared that as soon as the vegetable mould that formed the surface should be exhausted by tillage, the soil would become sterile and worthless. Fifty years ago it was said that such and such fields were about worn out, but the recuperative power of this soil, by the decomposition of the limestone and other earthy compounds, is wonderful, and these same fields continue to yield the best crops, equal to any of the newer lands, and making more certain crops from the fact that they are less affected by any excess or want of rain than clay soils. Whatever else was produced in this basin, it was very certain to produce, in pioneer times, an abundant crop of fever and its accompaniments, and verified the saying of the Indians "that the Lick-Licking was a bad place to raise papooses."

And it is a mistake to suppose that it took but few years to change this miasmatic region into a healthy one. It was soon found that where the trees were cut down and the under-brush cleared away, there immediately sprang up in the places thus exposed to the sun, the most luxuriant growth of weeds, grasses, vines and plants, covering all the partly cleared lands, which more than compensated for the removal of the trees. This growth was very vigorous, and formed a covering for many wild animals as well as large numbers of venomous reptiles. These were a continual dread to the early settlers, and not only to the settlers, but the horses and cattle were in constant fear of them, and often suffered from their poisonous fangs.

Dr. John Newman Wilson was one of the early and prominent settlers of Newark, and identified with its interests and prosperity during his long life of seventy years. His father came here in 1806 with a numerous family, all of whom left the mark of their individuality upon this county. Dr. Wilson was long an honored member of the pioneer society here, and died in October, 1868. The following regarding the early diseases prevalent in Newark and vicinity, is from one of his interesting and valuable papers. From it may also be gleaned other matters pertinent to the early history of Newark :

"My father and family moved to and settled near this city in 1806, when I was a small boy, and consequently I must rely on older and earlier settlers for most of my facts, and from none have I received information, more capable of giving it, than from my medical preceptor, the late Dr. John J. Brice. Dr. Brice, in his youth, resided in the healthy county of Harrison, West Virginia, where he had the advantage of a good preparatory education- He read medicine in Pittsburgh and Uniontown, Pennsylvania. During his studies he obtained some notoriety by being, perhaps, the first to practice vaccination west of the mountains, which I think was in 1801.

"His preceptor had obtained some vaccine matter from a then representative of Kentucky, as he passed by Uniontown on his Way home from Congress. This virus had been sent to the President of the United States by Dr. Jenner, of London, to be distributed to members of Congress.

"His preceptor, Dr. Simonson, having little faith in this innovation turned the matter over to his pupil, "Jack Brice,'' who immediately began his tests. It soon created widespread interest. Dr. Brice, thereafter, always took great interest in the subject of vaccination, and was the most careful physician I ever knew in the selection of virus. His mode of vaccination was peculiar. He made it a rule, whenever he could, about the tenth day after vaccination, to examine the pock, and if well matured, he would make a slight puncture with the lancet, take some virus and insert it in the other arm of the same person, so, as he said, to go through the same process as the first, and destroy any remaining susceptibility that might exist. I have yet to learn that any of the early settlers who were vaccinated by Dr, Brice, have had even varioloid. He must have vaccinated hundreds of families in this county.

"Dr. Brice located in Newark in November 1803, I think, having a good opinion of his qualifications ; and many of his old acquaintances having settled in and about Newark, they gave the commencement of his professional career an impetus, and he had high expectations of success.

"In the beginning of his practice he had to deal principal^ with inflammatory diseases, particularly pleurisy, which be sad was much more common at that time than in after years. Is his treatment of inflammatory diseases his success equaled kb expectations, except in that of rheumatism, which was then as stubborn as it has ever since been. In his treatment of inflammatory fevers, cathartics, antimonials and the free use of the lancet with blisters, usually effected a cure. Most of the early settlers were from the healthy regions of Virginia and Peonsyk vania, and he thonght they bore blood-letting better than they did after remaining for a time in this unhealthy and miasmatic section - as it then was. When the summer and fall diseases began he found they did not so readily yield to the lancet and his doses of "ten and ten," as taught by Dr. Rush, a famous Philadelphia physician, but he persevered.

"He found that by his treatment the remittent fevers seemed to yield, in part, and assume the intermittent or ague form; but when winter came plenty of his patients were still shaking, yet he did not give up the use of the lancet, but tried it in even stage of the disease; often bleeding just before, as well as b the cold stage, and sometimes with success; but when he saw the lesult in many cases, such as enlarged spleen, dropsy am. other sad consequences, together with the murmuring of h.s patients, he felt but little flattered by his success. It is true he did not confine himself entirely to the remedies above mentioned, but sometimes used emetics, Peruvian baric and opium, though sparingly. He also made some use of Virginia snake root, poplar bark, willow, dogwood and cherry.

"Dr. Brice having founded his practice on the theorericil views of Dr. Rush, believing with him that yellow fever was only a higher grade of bilious fever, in all its forms; and that if Dr. Rush succeeded by giving his doses of "ten and ten" of calomel and jalap, and in the use of the lancet, he could no: conceive why the milder forms of the disease should not yield to the same treatment. He felt so vexed with his want of success, and so disappointed in his expectations, that he returned to hi> friends in Virginia, determined to abandon the profession ami look up some other vocation in life. His brother, however, dissuaded him from this, and induced him to visit Philadelphia and consult Dr. Rush. He attended part of one course of lectures there, and related to Dr. Rush his disappointments. The latter took an interest in his statements, and advised him to return to his field of labor, telling him that Dr. Caldwell, who had been his student, was then engaged in translating a work from the Latin he thought would be of great service to hira. advised him to procure a copy and be governed by ii in tu practice. This work he obtained in 1805, before leaving Philadelphia. I am certain that this book must have saved the live of many of the pioneers.

"Dr. Brice having purchased a good supply of medicines £ Philadelphia, including a good quality of chinchona berk, ac article not always easily obtained, returned to Newark and resumed his practice. The lancet was used more sparingly, and only to relieve some organ from the violent action of the heart. Calomel and jalap were used to disgorge the bilious matter and correct the biliary secretions. This, with the free use of the bark during the intermissions of the fever, became the foamis-

"The country was sparsely settled, and he made long rides into the country, often going into adjoining counties. At that lime it was the remittent form of fever that gave the most per pJexity, this sometimes proving fatal. In accordance with Se_ nac's advice, he gave up bark during the remission in cases where he apprehended danger. In many of these cases coma often occurred early; in these his main reliance was on the bark. His favorite mode was to give it in a decoction, acidulated with sulphuric acid; but in ordinary cases it was taken in doses of a teaspoonful in wine every hour, or mixed with a decoction of Virginia snakeroot. A very common way, too, was to administer it in doses of a teaspoonful in the Common beverage of the country, whiskey.

"An old and popular psescription was: bark, one ounce; Virginia snakeroot, one-half ounce; sal tartar, twelve grains; whiskey, one pint: drink ad libitum.

"It was not long until a prejudice arose against the use of barks by those who had protracted ague, they attributing to. the remedy what was the result of the disease, saying they could feel the effect of the bark in their bones, as people often now say their bones are full of quinine. (Quinine was first used here io 1825,^1 he first ounce costing sixteen dollars.)

"It is a mistake to suppose that typhoid fever did not occur among the early settlers. My eldest brother laid the greater part of the year 1805-6 with this fever. It was then called typhus.

"In the winter of 1812-13 snow was sufficient for the running of sleighs and sleds most of the winter; there was, perhaps, bet ter sleighing than has been known since, so that com, oats, pork flour, etc., were taken to Sandusky and other points on the lakes, from this place, on sleds. This was not only a great advantage to the pioneers, but a God-send to the army then fight, ing the British. Near the close of the war an epidemic of the most fatal character prevailed, known by the name of ' Cold plague, rbe attack was mostly violent chill followed by fever and severe pain in some region, generally in the lungs, but often in the brain, and sometimes in the bowels or limbs, the pain often preceding the chill. Delirium soon attended and the patient sank; the disease often proving fatal in forty-eight hours. If it lasted several days the symptoms were generally of a typhoid character. At first most of the cases proved latal; bloodletting was found to be injurious, and medicines of all kinds seemed equally so. The practice finally adopted was that of putting the patient to bed and dosing with warm teas and warm applications to the exterior surface. The boughs of the spruce pine were extensively used for this purpose, and it was thought the pine bad some peculiar virtue in this disease. This fatal epidemic swept over the country at that time, much the same as the cholera has since done.

"The measles and whooping-cough prevailed with the early settlers as they have since; also colds and influenza. Diarrhoea never prevailed as an epidemic in our early settlements until the approach of the cholera in 1832. Dysentery was also unknown until 1826. It then made its appearance in the neighborhood of Brownsville, in this county, and was called the bloody flux. We had many cases in Newark in the fall of this year, and it prevailed with great violence the following summer, and was attended with greater fatality throughout the summer than any other disease has ever been.

" Scarlatina was unknown in Newark until 1831. The first case was a boy in the family of the late Lucius Smith, who then lived in a brick house since used for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad depot. The disease soon became a severe scourge and many children died with it.

"What has been said about diseases in Newark will apply equally to other portions of the county, except the highlands, where intermittents were less prevalent. In the northwestern portion of the tjounty milk sickness was not uncommon, and a number of deaths were caused by it. It continued to prevail at irregular intervals until 1835.

"The first physician in Newark, as far as I am able to learn, was a Dr. Allen. He came from New York with a Mr. Rathbone, a land agent. He left a few years after Dr. Brice settled here. There was a Dr. Ager in Granville, in an early day, but he soon retired from business.

"Dr. Noah Harris came here probably in 1808, and was married in 1810. Dr. Brice soon formed a partnership with him. He was a good physician and a popular and useful man."

Medical attention was hard to secure in those days, on account of the sparsity of the population and the condition of the roads. Physicians went altogether on horseback, with their pill bags buckled to the saddle. Wheeled vehicles were first used by the physicians about 1830. Medicines were hard to procure; it took several weeks to get them from eastern cities, and often they were worthless. Peruvian bark, especially, was high in price and often of no value. Drs. Brice and Harris controlled the practice of medicine about Newark for twenty-five years.

Most of the early-time physicians of Newark are named in this chapter. Those of a later date, who practiced their profession between the years 1825 and 1850, were Dr. Elisha Cooper, Dr. Daniel Marble, Dr. Edward Stanbery, Dr. J. N. Wilson, the Drs. Dickinson, father and son, Dr. Z. C. McElroy, and Dr. Thomas H. Roe, all of whom have deceased, except the two last named. Dr. McElroy has been a successful and respectable physician of Zanesville for about thirty years, and also an extensive contributor to the medical periodicals of Europe and America. Dr. Roe still devotes himself to the practice of his profession in Newark and vicinity, making surgery, as he has always done, a specialty. Dr. Cooper was from New Hampshire, Dr. Marble from western New

H 22 Tory Of Lickingcounty

York, Dr. Stanbery from Zanesville, and the Dickinsons from England. They were respectable and successful practitioners, as was also Dr. J. N. Wilson, of whom a full biographical sketch is given in connection with the genealogy of the Wilsons.

Among those most prominent of a later day were Drs. J. H. Hamill, A. Barrows, L. T. Ballou, J. R. Black, B. F. Spencer, and others, most of whose names will be found among the members of the Licking County Medical society, given elsewhere in this history. Of the foregoing all are living and in full practice, except Dr. Ballou, of whom an extended biographical sketch is given elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Black has been a voluminous writer on subjects chiefly bearing on hygiene and medical science generally. His work entitled "Ten Laws of Health," and his contributions to scientific journals, and to the annual pub, lications of the "American Health association" oi which he is a member, have met with a good degree of public favor.

Chapter Lxvii

the Original Record - The Settlers of 1802 - First Sale of Lots in Newark - First Buildings Erected - Rev. John Wright - What Mrs. Haughey Says - The Early Taverns - What Dr. Wilson Says - The Old Court House, Jail and Whipping Post - A Brief Sketch of the Schools of Newark From the First to the Present Time - The Press of Newark.

IN the two previous chapters on this township, an effort has been made to impress upon the mind a picture of the country as it appeared just prior to its occupation by the white-race, and this picture, it will be perceived, was not a flattering one, though believed to be a faithful one. The picture was beautiful to the eye, the surface was diversified and lovely, but beneath that surface lurked the savage, the wild animal, the venomous reptile and the malarial poison that insidiously and stealthily attacked the vital powers of the pioneers* All these in addition to the dense forest were to be conquered and put out of the way. This was done but it cost many lives, like the fighting of any other great battle.

Up to the year 1801, no white settlement existed within the limits of the township. A few settlers were in the Licking valley, and the Staddens had erected their cabin, and settled very near its eastern line. It was up the Licking valley, from the direction of Zanesville, that the first settlers came, over roads of their own construction. During the year 1801, four families settled within the limits of this township, and the record does not show which of these came first. One of these was Samuel Parr, who settled in the Licking valley, just below the junction of the North and South forks, and first above the Staddens, on what was afterward known as the "Miller" farm. James Macauly and James Danner located near the mouth of the Ramp creek, in the southern part of the township, where the first named built a "tub mill" or "com cracker," the first water-power concern within the present limits of the county. There were other settlers, also, in this year, on Ramp creek, not for from its mouth. These were Phineas and Fred- ' erick Ford, and Benoni Benjamin. Phineas Ford settled in Union township; Frederick very near the present line between Union and Newark townships, but Benjamin settled within the limits of Newark township, near where the canal feeder crosses Ramp creek. It is believed these four families constituted the entire population of this township in 1801. In 1802, however, immigrants came in greater numbers, and from this time forward there was a steady stream of immigration. The most important arrival in this year was that of General William C. Schenck, who laid out the town of Newark, calling it after his native place, Newark, New Jersey. This territory was then in Fairfield county, and continued so until 1 808.

Hon. William C. Schenck was an early emigrant to the Miami valley, where he was a large landholder. He and Daniel C. Cooper were proprietors of the town of Franklin, in Warren county, Ohio, situated on the Big Miami river, which they laid out in 1795. There Mr. Schenck resided and some of his descendants are yet living in that vicinity.

In 1799 Mr. Schenck was chosen secretary of the first council of the Northwest Territory, and served also at the second, and probably the third and last sessions.

In 1803 he was elected a member of the first senate of Ohio, serving two years. In 1820 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of Ohio, and died at Columbus during his term of service, January, 1821. He was a man of character, ability and enterprise, and greatly esteemed by his fellow pioneers of the Miami valley. He was father of Rear Admiral James F. Schenck, of the United States navy, and of General Robert C. Schenck, who is known to the whole country as an old time member of Congress, a Union general and a minister to foreign courts.

William C. Schenck was an officer in General Harrison's army in the War of 1812, and was best known as General Schenck. He was a true patriot, 1 gallant soldier, and was conspicuous for heroism in the heroic age of the great northwest.

He became part owner of section four in this ownsbip, his partners being G. W. Burnet and John N. Cummins; and being a practical surveyor, ame over here from Warren counjty to survey their and and ascertain its exact location. He brought vith him the plats of the surveys of this and the adjoining townships, and boarded with Isaac Stadlen, while engaged in his work. He was soon ible to inform the settlers here, who were the >wners of the land. No one in what is now Licking county, in 1801, was living on his own land except John Van Buskirk; all the rest were squatters.

After locating their land, it appeared to these men that the forks of the Licking was a good place for a town, and Newark was accordingly platted. 'The surveying was done by a well known early settler, Samuel H. Smith. The following is a copy of the original record:

"In conformity to a law of the territory northwest of the Ohio, now in force, this plat and description of the town of Newark is made for the purpose of being recorded.

"The town is laid out in blocks or squares of twenty-five perches, each block is subdivided into lots, and has an alley one pole wide, running through the center each way, and crossing at right angles. Each lot contains seventy-two square poles, and is six perches in breadth, and twelve in length. Main street is eight poles wide, the other streets are each six poles wide. The common or public ground may be appropriated to county purposes by consent of two-thirds of the inhabitants of the town, and not otherwise, excepting one hundred and forty- ' four square poles in the centre of said public ground, which is given for county or State purposes, to be applied to no other purposes whatever.

"The ground between Front street and the river, all the streets and alleys and the public grounds, except as before excepted, are given perpetually for the use of the inhabitants of the town of Newark.

"The course of Main street is south sixty-five degrees west, and vice versa , and the other streets run at right angles from it except East and West streets which run parallel with it. The out-lots are twenty-six poles square, and contain four acres and thirty-six perches, and between every two tiers of out-lots is an alley two poles wide.

Before me Joseph Vandorn, one of the justices of the aforesaid county, personally came William C. Schenck, and acknowledged the foregoing and within to be a true description and plat of the town of Newark, and saith he wished it to be recorded as such, as witness my hand and seal, the sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord 1803.

In addition to the plat and destription of the town of Newark, we, the subscribers, inhabitants, of the town of Newark, do certify that the following alteration in the plan of the town of Newark was made by William C. Schenck previous to his making sale of lots in said town, and that the said alteration was made by and with our advice and consent, to-wit: A street four rods wide on the north, south and west sides of the town, and alleys two rods wide, extending from the said street on the north side through a tract of land reserved by the proprietors to the alleys running between the out-lots; also no more common may be left between the upper block of in-lots and the river than a street six rods wide, and that an alley two poles wide may be continued from that street to the lower side of the out-lots, and along the same to the river; and we do hereby request that said alteration may be made, as we are certain it will be highly * advantageous to the inhabitants of the town.

In addition to the names on the above record, the following constituted the entire number of inhabitants then in Newark township, so far as can be astertained: Mrs. Catharine Pegg, Abraham Miller, James Macauley, Benoni Benjamin, James Danner, James Jeffries and Beall Babbs.

In October of this year (1802) quite a little colony came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Newark and Cherry valley. These were Abraham Johnson, Abraham Wright, William B. Gaw, James Petticord, Edward Nash, Carlton Belt, Benedict Belt, Acquilia Belt, Little John Belt, Black John Belt. These Belts were also joined in a few years by Long John Beit.

In the winter of 1802-3 James Petticord and Little John Belt began the erection of a mill which became the Buskirk mill in 1804. John Van Buskirk run this mill more than thirty years. To the names above may be added that of John Warden who, with Abraham Miller and Henry Claybaugh, came from the south branch of the Potomac, settling in the vicinity of Newark - Warden near the east line of the township.

The first sale of lands in this township occurred May 20, 1802, and was made by Messrs. Schenck, Cummins and Burnet, to John Warden, who purchased two hundred and eighty-five acres of land on the east side of section four. On the same day the same party sold to Anthony Miller three hundred and fifteen acres of land adjoining Warden's. Both of these deeds were acknowieged before Isaac Stadden, then justice of the peace.

The city was laid out in the spring of 1802, though the plat of the same was not recorded until March, 1803. The original plat and much of the present city is enclosed on three sides by the North, South and Raccoon forks of Licking river. It is situated on a beautiful, level plateau of sandy loam, the original plat extending from Front street along the North fork on the east to Fifth street on the west, and from Walnut street on the south to Locust on the north. It is a square of which the public square is the center. Its surveyors had little regard for points of the compass, the streets in the original plat running at a right angle with the North fork, which here bears northwest and southeast.

It is very evident that General Schenck was a liberal minded gentleman, from his manner of laying out this town. Its very broad streets and ample public square testify to this. His views were broader than those of others who have since made additions to the place, as nearly all the streets outside of the original plat are cut down to ordinary, and some even less than ordinary width. Many additions have been made from time to time, the growth of the city having been mainly west and north.

The first sale of lots was to James Jeffries, who purchased out-lot number three and in-lot number fifty-nine. The first cabin was erected by Jame> Black, on lot eighty, where the Park house now stands, and was used as a hotel. It was the first in the new town, and was called "Black's tavern." About the same time Samuel Parr erected a cabin on lot seventy-three (the Culley lot), now occupied by Kellar's livery stable. Samuel Elliott built the first hewed-log house. It stood on lot seventy-nine, where Mrs. Fullerton now resides. Beall Babbs built on lot seventy-eight, where Matthew Newkirk now lives. Mrs. Catharine Pegg erected a cabin on the lot afterward occupied by the Episcopal rectory, but now the property of Mrs. Blandy. These were probably all the buildings erected in Newark in 1802; and all were built after July and before October.

It is rather difficult to follow closely the settlements after 1802, as the settlers came in rapidly from that time forward. In the summer of 1803 Rev. John Wright visited the place for the first time. He was a Presbyterian minister and the second one of that denomination to visit the place - Mr. Me Donald being the first. His brief experi- nee will enable one to form an opinion regarding he then little hamlet in the wilderness. He arrived »n a Saturday afternoon, and learning that there ras but one Presbyterian in the place, and being nwiliing to intrude upon him, as he was in very umble circumstances, he concluded to stop at Hack's tavern, the only place of entertainment in Dwn. The proprietor informed him that it would >e necessary for him to sleep on the floor, as his ieeping apartments, which were not numerous nor pacious, were occupied by persons who were atending a horse-race. This, Mr. Wright readily onseated to do. On the following day (Sunday) rrangements were made for a repetition of the ace, which had not terminated very satisfactorily >n Saturday.

Though during the forenoon of that Sabbath he chief interest of the little community was cenered in that horse-race, Mr. Wright preached, and teld a second service in the afternoon, at which le preached a sermon on the "observance of the >abbath," to an audience largely composed of hose who had attended the horse-race.

At the close of this service one of his hearers rose and said the preacher had told them the ruth, and proposed that a collection be taken up or him. The hat being passed around seven dolars was contributed.

A story was afterward published in connection dth this visit of Mr. Wright, to the effect that bout the middle of the night of Saturday he was roused by a gang of drunken roughs, who swore hat as a stranger he must stand treat or be ducked mder a pump near by, but that he escaped and pent the remainder of the night with his Presbyerian brother. The truth of this is doubted

John Warden has been mentioned among the ettlers in Newark in 1802. He succeeded Isaac itadden in the office of justice of the peace, and ras the first office-holder within the limits of Newrk township. Isaac Stadden has been mentioned >y some authorities as a resident of this township, )ut this is an error; he resided in Madison townhip, very near the east line of Newark township. Vbraham Miller, who came with Warden, raised a rop here in 1802, and then, in the fall of that ear, returned to the south branch of the Potomac md married, returning with his wife in the spring

Nancy Cunningham, wife of John Cunningham, and daughter of David Lewis, born October, 1803, is the next oldest. She is yet living, in good health, on Mt. Vernon street. The$e two old ladies have noted the mighty changes of more than three-fourths of a century in this one spot.

Patrick Cunningham was bom in Tyrone county, Province of Ulster, Ireland, and came to the Licking valley in 1801, settling near the cabin of John Jones, on the Munson farm, in Granville township. He built the second cabin in that township. In 1803 he removed to Newark, where he became quite a character. His nephew, John Cunningham, who married the second white child born in the town, above mentioned, is yet living on Mt Vernon street.

From 1801 to 1810, Newark barely had an existence, containing a score or two log cabins, erected in the midst of a great forest, but upon the ruins of an ancient city of the Mound Builders. Black's "tavern" was a log building, on the east side of the frog pond, now known as the public square. It was, probably, the most important building in the place, standing high and dry on an elevated piece of ground, which has since been leveled. Whether this elevation was an artificial one the record does not say. Some years afterwards this log building was replaced by a brick, which was painted a bright green color, and was called the "Green tavern." That building in turn gave way to the present substantial one. It has, in all these years, changed hands many times. Some of its early landlords were, James Black, James Taylor, Thomas Taylor, Major Huston, Willard Warner, G. C. Harrington, and others.

"Taverns" were busy places in those days. Immigrants came rapidly and they were all hungry and dry ; consequently the little log taverns were generally "packed" at night and the bar, inseperable from the business of hotel keeping, was well patronized. They were often noisy places, people in their neighborhood resorting to them for the purposes of drinking, frolicking, wrestling, pitching quoits, and often fighting. A specimen of a country tavern was located about half way between Newark and Granville in an early day, called the "Tar tavern." It was the half-way house for sleighing parties, and travelers from one town to tfce other. Some of the performances at the Tar tavern were not always creditable to those engaged, but this class of houses has long since disappeared.

Every tavern had its sign, an article considered of great importance. Something must be painted upon it that would attract attention; in this they took lessons from across the water, following closely the habit of the English inn. George Washington's head frequently appeared on tavern signs, as well as that of General Wayne and other noted people, while horses, dogs, and every species of animal and bird were frequently painted in the brightest colors, life size, framed and swung to the breeze on creaking iron hinges. This sign was generally fastened to the top of a large post which stood in front of the tavern door, and served as a hitching post.

The second hotel in Newark was started by Abraham Johnson, in 1803. It was a log building and stood on the corner of Church and Third streets, immediately in rear of what is now the Lansing house. This house was also kept by Mr. Spellman, and was subsequently purchased by William Trindle, and called the "Ohio house." The present brick building was erected for and used some years as a hotel. It was called the "Green Tree" house, having a tree painted on the sign.

The third hotel was erected by Maurice Newman, who came to Newark in 1804. It stood on second street, facing the square, on the site of the residence of the late S. D. King.

The fourth was the "Cully" or "Black Horse" tavern, started about 1807, by John Cully, in the log house built by Samuel Parr, in 1802. This was, probably, the most popular of the early taverns; the most prominent thing about it being the sign, upon which was painted a black horse. It is hard to say what friade the place popular, as it always appeared to be a tumble down old rookery, and its outward appearance was anything but inviting, but Cully seemed to be a favorite with the traveling public and the place was well patronized. The north end of the building was two stories in height, the upper story being fitted up as a lodging room for guests. This was called the "potter's field," a place where everybody slept. This tavern stood opposite the Park house, on the site of Kel lar's livery stable.

About 1812 or 1814, Colonel William H. Gault came and erected a hotel on the south side of the square. The sign of the tavern was a big bell, and it was called the "Bell tavern." By this time and for some years before, VanBuskirk's saw-mill had been at work, and lumber could be procured for building purposes. Gault's tavern was frame, or it was at least weather-boarded. Subsequently this was torn down and a brick erected on the spot for the same purpose, which in turri gave way to the present edifice, called Shield's block. Gaul; was an ambitious, stirring business man, and occupied the positions of county commissioner, sheriff auditor, and also represented the county in both branches of the legislature at different times.

"We had at that time several log houses, as well as some frame ones, but so scattered as to give but a faint idea of the shape and form of a town. These houses stood mostly north and northeast of the square. Scarcely could there be found in the town one hundred yards square without a pond or pool of water, standing most of the year. An ugly swamp was then in existence just north of Church street, along Fourth, with a gully running down by the comer ot Church and Third streets, to near the southwest comer of the square, with a large pcaxl just northeast of the old wooden jail which stood there in the center of the square. This large pond remained for a dwelling place for frogs, and a resort for ducks and geese, in some degree, as late as 1837."

Mrs. Haughey says the old jail above mentioned stood near the south side of the present park, and was a squatty, round-log building, though two stories in height. The jailor, Adam Hatfield, lived in the lower part, and the prisoners were kept in the upper part. It was probably erected about or after 1808. She remembers that the whipping post was brought into requisition at one time. A man by the name of Courson was bound to the post, which stood near the jail, and whipped by a man named Zeigler, who was employed for that purpose. This punishment was meted out to Courson for stealing a sack of wheat from the Van Busk irk mill. All the citizens of the town wit- nessed the performance, the children being allowed the place of honor inside the ring formed around the post, the women being next, and the men around the outside.