Muskingum Township

Railroad

This is the second township north of the city of Zanesville, west of the Muskingum river, being bounded on the east by that stream, north by Cass township, west by Licking township, and south by Falls township.

there, were: David Devore, James Beach, and James Black, in 1797. The former built his cabin on the east side of the township, near the river, but subsequently abandoned this site and located on the south half of section six, township two, range eight, near a small stream that has since been known as ''Devore's run." James Black settled on the farm now owned by John Stitt. The only homestead chosen by James Black, according to tradition, was under hishat! These were followed, in 1798, by John Bland, (whose son, Silas, was born while they were yet in camp, the same year), Elijah Stradley, and Ebenezer Ryan. The former settled on a part of section thirteen ; Mr. Stradley, on lot thirty-six, (as now surveyed), and Ryan continued to roam. David Devore built the first hewed log house in the township, in 1798. The reaper, Death, came into the young record of whose coming was, doubtless, buried with him, as itis not known. Jesse Dowell.and James Devore passed over the river about the year 1800. They were buried on the Gardner farm, which spot became the first cemetery of the township. William Bland joined his brother John, in 1803. In 1808, Levi Ceo aer. George Welsh, Samuel McCann, and Joseph Spencer were added to the community. McCann settled on section seven, Cooper on section thirteen, Welsh on the south half of section twenty-two, and Spencer on section five.

It will be seen by referring to the date of the acquisition of title to the lands from the Indians, that it had not been fully consummated ; that this region was a part of the domain of the Aborigines, and, as subsequent history shows, they were reluctant to quit this country for parts unknown to them. And with the displeasure at parting with their happy hunting grounds, came the pang of separating from the graves of their fathers. That the inducements to remain where valuable game: for meat and skins was abundant, with the facility of carrying these commodities, by boat, to the traders' headquarters, at Marietta, or even beyond, was sufficient, in a commercial point of. view, will be apparent to any one at all acquainted with the geography and early history of the country. And when the great confederation of Indian tribes is taken into account, we can but wonder that the red men submitted to the greatly inferior force of the white man. They did not make haste to depart, but lingered, thinking, and rightly, that the whites were getting so much the best of the bargain, that they were willing to ignore the stipulations of the treaty, and occasionally found pleasure in running off stock, and, upon slight provocation, killing men, and even women. They killed a young woman who was affianced toone Hughes. This very naturally, exasperated him, and he induced his friend Ratliff to join him in an oath of revenge. This. was quickly put to the test by another overt act upon the part of the Indians, who stole horses from Hughes and Ratliff, one night in the month of April, 1800. Revenge on the Indians - any Indians - was the/literal meaning of their vow. The injured parties easily enlisted another man - John Bland - -in their cause, which now included the recovery of their-horses. Fortunately for any unoffending Indians that might have been in the neighborhood, sufficient snow had fallen to enable them to track the marauders, and they followed them into Knox county, thirty miles away, when, seeing there were only two, they cast lots to determine who should be the avengers of-the outrage. The lot fell upon Hughes and Bland. The party crept stealthily nearer, to make assurance doubly sure. Hughes brought the first Indian to the dust, while Bland's gun failed, and this gave the remaining Indian a chance to plead for his life, which he did, saying : ''Ugh! me bad Indian; me do so no more!'' With this conféssion and promise on his lips, Ratliff absolved him from further earthly trouble by sending a bullet through his heart. The trio then secured their horses and returned home; and such was the effect of this mode of dealing out justice that the red man began to forsake this region, and the pioneer pursued the ways of peaceful industry with but little molestation.

' The first orchards were set out by Daniel Devore and William Bland, in the year 1800, and soon after, George Welsh planted an apple and peach orchard. These being the first orchards in this section, the fruit was in great demand by old and young, the latter sometimes appropriating a supply without consulting the owners thereof.

by George Walsh, about the year 1810. Richard Owens did the carpenter work, and was probably the first carpenter in the township. Dutton Lane had a frame barn built on the farm now owned by Milo Miller - one Crowel was the carpenter. This was ''in an early day."

Samuel Gest, John Dorsey, and Rev. Joseph Thrapp came in 1810. Dorsey settled upon the west part of section four; Thrapp in the southwest corner of the township, upon the farm now owned by his son, J. E. Thrapp. In 1812,'Henry J. Butler and Samuel Baxter arrived. The former settled on the west border of the township, just north of Thrapp, and the latter did not make a home of his own. John M. Lane, a blacksmith, from Baltimore county, Maryland, came in 1815 ; he opened a farm on section nineteen. Norman Gorsuch, from the same place, came soon after, with his family and household goods. They made the trip of three hundred and seventy-five miles in twenty-two days. He died at the age of seventy-three. His son, Joshua, now in his eightythird year, lives on the farm opened by his father. The wife of Joshua was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Thrapp, (of the Methodist Episcopal church, who moved from Virginia to Licking county, and in 1810 settled upon the farm now owned by J. E. Thrapp.)

A Methodist camp meeting was held upon the farm of Rev. Joseph Thrapp, in 1815, and among the ministers present were McKendree and Francis Asbury, afterwards so well known as Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. J. E. Thrapp thinks McKendree was then a Bish- op. Many are said to have been converted at the meeting, among them was Samuel Hamilton, of Hopewell township, who became a minister, and continued to labor for the cause of Christ until disabled by age, and he died triumphantly in the faith he had preached.

The triumphs of these brave pioneers have not been sung, nor the tales of the hardships they endured been preserved, by faithful chronicler, but memory relumes with a hallowed fire as traditional accounts are told o'er and o'er at the fireside of their happy descendants ; and the incense of gratitude goes up from many a heart for the beauty and quiet of homes now the heritage of the dwellers in ''old Muskingum," ever enhanced by the fruitful fields, the orchards of luscious fruits, and vine-clad hills, happy children, schools and churches, and we hear their song:

" How cheerful, along the gay mead, The daisies, and cowslips appear ; The flocks, as they carelessly feed, Rejoice in the spring of the year. The herbage that springs from the sod, The myrtle that shades the gay bowers, Trees, plants, cooling fruits and sweet flowers, All raise to the praise of our God."

The surface that constituted the theatre of their actions, is undulating, until you approach the eastern part, where it rises into headlands, near the river, sometimes rather abruptly. There are no large streams, yet the township is considered well watered. ''Devore's run" rises in Cass township, and flows in a southeastern direction, through the western part of the township. There are, besides, a number of smaller streams and never-failing springs.

The soil is principally sandy loam, except in the most undulating portions, where clay subsoil predominates. The cereals, as well as vegetables, do well in this township.

Coal of good quality abounds in the eastern part of the township. Some iron ore has been found, but not demonstrated to be in paying quality or quantity.

The first road surveyed was the State Road, from Zanesville. to Coshocton, about 1830. It passed through the eastern portion of the township ; and from Zanesville to Newark - about the same time. The latter passes through the southwestern portion of the township.

The territory embraced in this township was formerly joined with that of Falls, and was oranize arch 8th, 1808, and then included West Zanesville, under a new organization, June 7th, 1816. Muskingum township, as now bounded, was organized the 3d of September, 1817, and was a part of what had been West Zanes-

The first election of township officers is said to have been held at the house of Captain James Taylor, on the last Saturday of September, 1817. The first Justice of the Peace, elected at the same time, was Henry Butler. The names of the township officers do not appear on record, nor does tradition furnish them.

The First Church

The first church (Methodist Episcopal) was organized by Rev. Joseph Thrapp and family, at his house, in the southwest corner of the township, in 1810. The society, at its inception, was composed of Rev. Joseph Thrapp and family, John Thrapp and family, Mr. Hickison and familv, and Mr. Hall and family. Their first preacher was Rev. James Quinn. The society has continued through every adversity: and flourished. |

Sabbath School In Early Times

Archibald McCann was very devoted to the welfare of the young people of his neighborhood, and on Sabbath gave his whole time to teaching ; opening school in the morning, and continuing all day - in studying the Bible. Mr. McCann was drowned in the canal at Zanesville, on the night of March 2gth, 1839. The drawbridge had been left open, and, the night being dark, he did not discover it, and, walking off, fell into the water.

The First Mill

The first mill was built by David"*Devore, on 'Devore stun, IM 1ok2., sl his was vu crude ate fair: after the wheat was ground, it was carried in sacks, upon men's shoulders, to: the upper story of the mill, and there bolted by hand.

The first sawmill was built by Rev. Joseph Thrapp, on his place, in the southwest corner of the township, in 1812. Elias Green had a sawmill, in 1825, on the same site where David Devore's mill stood in 1812.

The First Tanneries

One was built by Dutton Lane, on the Dresden road, in the eastern part of the township, in 1812, and another in 1817, by Firman Spencer, near the village of Spencer.

The Baptist Church

The cemetery grounds comprise three acres, and were used soon after the organization of the church. Three or four by the name of Lane, and five or six of the neighborhood, who died previous to this time, were buried on the farm now owned by Joshua Butler (northwest quarter of section twenty-two, township two, range eight), and their graves remain there to this day.

The Presbyterian Church, known also as the '¢ Pierson Church," (situated about the center of the township, north and south, and about two and a half miles from the west line) wasorganized in 1814, and was first ministered to by Rev. James Culbertson, of Zanesville.

The site for this church and cemetery, containing about one acre, was donated by David Pierson and George Welsh, jointly. The first members were David Pierson and family, Joseph McDonald and family, and some named Welsh, but no record has been found and we have to content ourselves with this tradition. A Sabbath School was organized here in 1849; the school has continued to this day and now has about forty scholars in attendance. The present Superintendent is: Rev. Tenny, assisted by

The First School

The first school was taught by one Shutliff, in '*the Pierson School House," about the year of 1815. John Elliott, Sanford Raimy, Archibald McCann, and a Mr. Phelps, were among the teachers whose names are remembered, but dates and localities are wanting. Like many of their profession, they did not deem it necessary to leave any record of their doings, so that it is possible tradition may fail to do them justice by not weaving a chaplet for their brows.

The school house of * ye olden time" was not intended to be more comtortable than the dwell- | ing, and it is altogether likely the scholars. scldom came to any other conclusion. The furnishing had little to inspire the uncultured mind. What was obtained in this temple, was by the hardest, in its most literal sense. *

Some distinguished men have begun their career in the humble schools of this township. / Hon. C.S. Hamilton, Representative in Con- | gress in 1867-68, trom the district: embracing

Union county, went from this township. His career was suddenly terminated by an insane son striking him on the head with a board, when he was on a visit home; the son after killing his

Columbus, was once a pupil in the school house here described. i" Rev. Israel and Joel Thrapp, well known ministers of the M. E. Church, were' raised in this township and received their early training amid the puncheons above alluded to. Hon. Elias Ellis was a pupil in the Pierson School House; his father came to this township in 1800, and at the time of his death, in August, 1833, lived in the town of Irville, Licking township. Elias Ellis, senior, came from Belmont county, Ohio, with his family and household goods on pack horses. Elias, junior, was born in Belmont county, old when the family arrived here. He has been elected to the Legislature four times; first in 1869, member of the Lower House, and reelected in 1871. In 1873 he was elected to the Upper House, and was one of the leading members of the Senate; the district comprised the counties of Muskingum and Perry; he was reelected in 1875.

Early Blacksmiths The First Distillery

The first distillery was built by Col. George Jackson, in 1818, near the Muskingum river; we are not told whether this was z//czt or not, but its location is not known. In 1824 another of those obscure institutions was said to exist, and Michael Hahn was credited with its management. David Pierson and James Welsh were said to be in the business in 1818, or 1820.

The First Salt Works

The first salt works were probably erected by Col. George Jackson, somewhere in the eastern part of the township, close to the Muskingum river, about 1820. Salt brought from three to four dollars per bushel, in those days.

The first hotel, tavern, or place of entertainment, for these terms were used interchangeably, was by David Devore, about 1810-12. This was also his home - constructed of hewed logs, small, but comfortable. Dutton Lane opened a tavern on the road leading from Zanesville to Coshocton, in 1820; his. accommodations were also limited to one small room.

Welsh, in 1844. The medium exchange was silver coin and scrip. When change was scarce, the larger pieces of coi were cut to suit the demand. Coffee sold at 50 to 624 cents per pound ; - tea at $2.00; calico at 374 to 50 cents per yard ; while wheat sold as low as twenty cents per bushel, and was a drug on the market at that, and the price was generally paid in trade.

This church had its inception in 1834, at the house of William Mattingly, the occasion being solemnized by the ceremony of '' the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,'' which was celebrated pretty regularly, monthly, thereafter, by the Dominican Fathers of Zanesville, up to the year 1855. In 1856, the present beautiful brick edifice, 70x35, was built, on the northwest corner of John Mattingly's farm, being lot fourteen, Mr. Mattingly having dgnated one acre of ground for the church and cemetery: Francis Mattingly generously. furnished the church. The congregation was then ministered to by Rev. F. Breeder, from Newark, Ohio, until 1869, and since that time by Rev. J. M. Jacuett, of Coshocton. '

Agricultural Implements

Agricultural implements, in an early day, were of the most primitive kind. The plows had wooden mould boards, with shear and coulter, made .by ''the village blacksmith," and the plowman had to carry a paddle to clean the plow, as it did not scour. And although this was a great improvement on the Egyptian plow - which was not a plow, but a sort of prong of iron, adjusted to an imitation of the stock of the present plow - but much rougher and heavier, and propelled by a woman and an ox, yoked together, with aman(?) atthe handle, yet, when the patent plow, with cast iron mould board, was introduced, in 1825, and the inevitable pad- ofthat which had been drudgery, and Mother Earth seemed delighted to roll over. And when the tree top and wooden toothed harrow were superseded by the iron tooth harrow, ''the soil pulverized at the very touch," asit were. And when iron prongs were substituted for wooden hay forks, ''the song of the hay-maker'' was heard in the land. Then, too, the brawny blacksmith, with sturdy stroke, made his anvil ring merry music as he pounded the hoe and mattock into shape, and the bewildered bystanders shouted as this son of Vulcan made the fire fly.

The household implements were not such a relief to the drudgery of the inmates, however. Spinning wheel and loom, with their whirring and clicking, were the nearest approach to musical instruments that the fair dames possessed.

urchins - with birch bark, with the stick in it, but the hides suitable for leather, was an indispensable practice, that almost assumed the dignity of an art.

- Milling, or converting maize and other grain suitable for bread into flour, was an occupation which any member of the family large enough to wield the pounder, was liable to perform. The pestle, or pounder, when. designed for a large grist, was poised by the sweep, permitting a heavy weight to be used in the performance, and then the mill was located out of doors. The bolting, or sifting, was generally done by the maids, sometimes by the boys.

Improved Breeds Of Stock

James Still introduced the first Short Horned, or Durham, cattle, in 1839. He took great pains with his stock, and has been well repaid for his outlay and trouble. He was followed, very shortly after, in the same pursuit, by James Mc- Cammon, whose Durham's have attracted special attention.

In 1830, Isaac Dillon, then a resident of Falls township, introduced what is described as ''a very fine and profitable breed of sheep.' The next step in this direction was by a gentleman from Pennsylvania, who introduced some French Merinos; and the next sheep introduced were the Spanish Merinos, by an unknown gentleman. Among the early purchasers and successful growers of sheep, were Joshua Gorsuch, John M. Lane, Colonel E. Ellis, several of the Welsh family, Bland's, and John McDonald.

The first imported hogs were introduced in 1829, by Joshua Gorsuch. This breed was known as the Bedford. The next variety was the China, then the Poland, the Suffolk, the Chester White, and lastly, the Berkshire. Varied degrees of success have attended the growers, but result in the aggregate has been very satisfactory, and as many others have engaged in this business, it is safe to consider it profitable in this township.

Military Record

Revolutionary Soldiers. - The regiment and company unknown ; traditional authority, to-wit: Thomas Dowel, David Devore, William Blunt, William Bell and John Culling.

The following were ''known to have been out in the war of 1812:'' Moses Welsh, Enos Devore, Wm. Bland (Captain), Thomas Bland, Jacob Lane, James Blunt, John Cullins, John Thrapp and Noah Matthews.

Cavalry. - About 1830, a company of cavalry. was formed, of which William Ellis was Captain. The other officers and members are not remembered by the gentlemen who furnished this statement ; and it will be well enough to state here, that they - Francis Mattingly, Elias Ellis, James E. Thrapp and Charles Gorsuch - four of the oldest, best informed, and best preserved citizens of this township, were at great pains to furnish correct information for the history of this township, and have certified the data herein as the most complete and correct that can now be furnished. And while the absence of dates and specific location of some events is to be regretted, it is yet a matter of congratulation that they have been able to do so well from memory, having nothing else to guide them. And thanks are due to Joshua Gorsuch and wife, and John M. Lane, for valuable information.

During the early part of the war of the rebellion, fifty of the members of this cavalry company volunteered, and twenty were drafted. One of the tormer, Joseph T. Gorsuch, was a commissioned officer.

State Militia

Under the State law of Ohio, in 1863, militia were enrolled, and performed military duty. Archibald McDonald and William Tatham, of this township, were Captains in the Second Muskingum county regiment. Charles Gorsuch was First Sergeant in one of them.

The Railroad

The Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley railway, commonly called the C. & M. V. R. R., traverses a part of the eastern and northeastern border of the township. Ellis Station, the only one in the township, was located in 1870. The Postoffice was opened at this station about the same time.

Source changes here: from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio; Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the County and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy Families and Individuals, published 1892; 1,760 words in this source stream.

Muskingum Township

THIS, the second from west to east of the second tier of townships of the county from the northern limit, is bounded north by Jackson, Cass and Madison, east by Madison and Washington, south by Falls and west by Licking. The Muskingum river flows along its eastern border. Devore's run, which has its source in Cass township flows southeasterly through the western part of Muskingum. There are in the township some smaller streams, and some never- failing springs. The general surface is undulating, but in the eastern part, near the river, are prominent headlands, some of which rise quite abruptly. The soil is chiefly a sandy loam, though in the headlands spoken of is found a predominant clayey subsoil. Coal is plentiful in the eastern portions, and iron has been found. The principal timber trees are the oaks, hickory, ash, elm, beech, chestnut and walnut. There is an abundance of sandstone and limestone. The stone is of good quality and well adapted to building purposes. The township is traversed by the Cleveland & Canton and Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley railroads. Ellis, eight miles north of Zanesville, and seven miles south of Dresden, in the eastern jrart of this township, on the western bank of the Muskingum river, a station on these lines was founded, and its postoffice was established a little more than twenty years ago.

Zanesville was divided between this and Falls township. On the last Saturday in the same month the first township election is said to have been held at the house of Capt. James Taylor. Among those who were elected to office was Henry Butler, justice of the peace.

Among the early settlers in this township were David Devore, James Black, James Beach, John Bland, Elijah Stradley, Ebenezer Ryan, Timothy Prior, Jesse Dowell, William Bland, Levi Cooper, George Welsh, Samuel McCann and Joseph Spencer. The first three named came about 1797, and were the first white men to make a home in this township. Devore at first located and erected a cabin near the Muskingum, in the east part of the present township but removed to a place on the south half of section 0, township 2, range 8, near the stream since known as Devore's run. One of the others located on the Stitt farm. The third was of an unsettled disposition and did not choose a permanent home. John Bland who located on a part of section 13, is thought to have come the next year, and Silas Bland, his son, was born in camp before his parents had got settled in their wilderness home. Stradley and Ryan came in the year last mentioned and the former located on lot 36. William, brother of John Bland, came in 1803, and Cooper, Welsh, McCann and Spencer five years later. Rev. Joseph Thrapp, John Dorsey and Samuel Guest settled in the township in 1810, Dorsey on the west part of section 4.

Thrapp who had come from Virginia to Licking county, settled upon the J. E. Trapp farm in the southwest corner of the township. Samuel Baxter and Henry J. Butler came in 1812, the latter locating north of Thrapp. Three years later came J. M. Lane, a blacksmith, who located on section 19. He came from Baltimore county, Md., and Norman Gorsuch, from the same locality arrived soon afterward and located on the Joshua Gorsuch farm. He brought with him his family and his household effects, and it is said that they covered a distance of 375 miles intervening between their old home and their new one in twenty-two days. Joshua Gorsuch, a son of the pioneer, married a daughter of Rev. Mr. Thrapp, and lived to an advanced age. Norman Gorsuch died aged seventy-three years.

Timothy Prior, one of the pioneers, died in 1799, and his is believed to have been the first burial in the township. Two other pioneers, Jesse Dowell and James Devore, died the following year. The Gardner farm was the scene of their burial, and thus became the township's first cemetery. William Bland and Daniel Devore set out the first orchards in the first year of the present century, and not long afterward an apple and peach orchard was started by George Welsh. The first he wed-log house was erected by David Devore in 1798. It is stated that the first barn built in Muskingum township was one on the George Welsh farm, erected by Richard Owens, carpenter, about 1810, and it is believed that Owens was the first regular carpenter here. John M. Lane combined blacksmithing with farming, and was known as a blacksmith in this township prior to 1815. In the year last mentioned, or in 1816, Beal Owens set up his forge, and soon afterward another blacksmith shop was established by Otto Miller. David Devore built the first gristmill on Devore's run in 1812, or thereabouts. This establishment was one ^ of the most primitive description, it being necessary to carry the ground wheat upstairs in sacks on men's shoulders for bolting, and the bolting was done by hand at that. About the same time Rev. Joseph Thrapp put a sawmill in operation on his improvement. Devore's gristmill gave place to a sawmill, which was standing there about 1825, then the property of Elias Green. Dutton Lane established a tannery on the Dresden road about 1812, and Firman Spencer another in his part of the township about five years later. Among early school teachers were Sanford Raimy, John Elliott, Archibald McCann, a man named Phelps, and another named Shurtliffe or Shutliff, who is thought to have taught the first school in the township in the Pierson schoolhouse about 1815. David Pierson and James Welsh are accredited with having been actively engaged in the management of a distillery prior to 1820. Another was established near the river by Col. George Jackson about 1818 or 1819. Michael Hahn was operating a distillery in the township in 1824, or about that time. Col. Jackson, above mentioned, was making salt in the eastern par-t of the township, near the river, as early as 1821. The first public house was opened by David Devore, at his residence, as early as 1812. The house of Dutton Lane was thrown open to the public traveling over the Zanesville and Coshocton road about 1820. The Devore log house was primitive enough as a tavern, but Lane's was still more so, for it is said to have contained only one room, and that a by no means large one. Firman Spencer, above mentioned, erected the first brick house in Muskingum in 1825, near where Shannon was laid out five years later. Robert Welsh opened the first store in that locality about 1845. It is stated that at that time, when wheat was unsaleable at 20 cents a bushel in trade, its producers had to pay three to four shillings per yard for calico, 50 cents and more a pound for coffee, and $2 a pound for tea. Silver coin and scrip were employed in all transactions where barter was not resorted to of necessity, and there are those who say that coins were cut in halves and quarters when change could not be made conveniently without.

Early in the history of the township blooded horses were brought from Maryland and Virginia by some of the pioneers. Joshua Gorsuch introduced imported hogs about 1828 to 1830. A little later Isaac Dillon of Falls township introduced an improved breed of sheep. Joshua Gorsuch, John M. Lane, Col. Ellis, John McDonald, and some of the Welshes and Blands were extensive and successful sheep growers. Durham cattle were introduced by James Still and James McCammon.

Rev. Joseph Thrapp, who was a Methodist minister of much ability, well known throughout a wide extent of country, organized the first church in the township at his residence in 1810, with himself and family and John Thrapp and Messrs. Hickson and Hall and their families as members. Rev. James Quinn was the first pastor. This organization has had a successful existence, and dur- Tng recent years has met for worship at Sherrard chapel. In 1815 a camp meeting was held by the Methodists on Mr. Thrapp' s farm, and among those who preached were Bishops McKendree and Asbury, as they have since been known. Conversions were numerous, a notable one having been that of Samuel Hamilton, of Hopewell, who subsequently became a preacher in the same denomination, and as such labored successfully during a long and useful life. The first Sundayschool was started by Archibald McCaun, who taught the Bible all day Sunday, as he taught ordinary school on other days. He is remembered as having had the welfare of the young people of his community at heart, and as being profoundly devoted to their spiritual and educational interests. An old newspaper contains an account of his accidental death by drowning in the canal at Zanesville some time in the latter part of March, 1839, by walking off the abutment of the open drawbridge. In 1813 the Baptists organized a church sometimes called the Baxter church, with the following among its constituent members: Samuel

Baxter, John Dorsey, and Samuel Guest and their wives and Mrs. Henry Butler, Mrs. Lane, and Mrs. Eastenbauer. Rev. Amos Nix was the first pastor. The house of worship of this congregation is located on the John Welsh farm. The Presbyterian church in the western part of the township was organized in 1814. Its first pastor was Rev. James Culbertson, of Zanesville. Among its original members were David Pierson and family, in whose honor it has sometimes been referred to as the Pierson church, Joseph McDonald and family and members of the Welsh family. The church and cemetery lot was given by David Pierson and George Welsh. A Sunday-school was organized about 1850. St Mary's Catholic church was organized at the residence of William Mattingly in 1834, and was ministered to by the Dominican fathers of Zanesville until 1855. In 1856 a commodious brick edifice was erected on John Mattingly's farm, on a church lot of an acre which Mr. Mattingly had given. The building was furnished by Francis Mattingly.

Early deaths in the township have been mentioned, and early burials on the Gardner farm have been noted. There were other early interments on the Joshua Butler farm. Many pioneers and their descendants are buried in the Baptist and Presbyterian cemeteries, the first mentioned of which comprises three acres of ground. The first burial in the Catholic cemetery was that of William Mattingly who died in 1857, aged about seventy-five.