Newton Township

Newton Township

In general terms, this township is said to be in the southwest corner of Muskingum County. Its boundaries are as follows: On the north, by Springfield and a part of Hopewell townships ; on the east, by Brush Creek and a small portion of Springtield townships ; on the west, by Perry County.

The soil' is denerully fertile, and the region well watered. Jonathan's Creek is the principal stream, traversing the territory in a zig-zag course from the east, down below and up through the center, and out at the northeast corner, fertilizing and draining, with its south fork, a large area of the township; to these add the net-work of tributaries - Buckeye Fork, Kent's Run, Thompson's Run, One Mile, Two Mile, Phiee Mile,and numerous other smaller tributaries, and it is found to be one of the best watered townships in the county.

The pioneer history is somewhat remarkable. This locality was a favorite resort of the Shawanese Indians, game and fish being abundant. The first record of actual settlement,is that Jacob Smith entered the west half of section twentythree, town fifteen, range fourteen, in 1797. He came from Bucks County, via Louden County, Virginia, and settled upon this land in 1802; his cabin was subsequently described as being one mile southwest of ''Andrew Dugan's store :" his son John, now in his eightieth year of age, lives on the oldhome place.

Andrew Crooks, born in Berkley County, Virginia, in 1750, and Mary, his wife, of the same place, born in 1757, came to this region and settled on a part of section six, near the site now occupied by Newtonville, in the year 1800. His son George, now eighty- seven years old, lives on the ''oid home place.' The same year, came also John Axline, from Bucks County, Pa., and settled on the southeast quarter of section thirtyfour. George Crooks, John Smith and John Axline, are the three oldest of the pioneers now living.

Independence Day

In view of the few settlers mentioned, it would certainly excite the curiosity of the reader to be told that the anniversar y of the Nation' s birthday was celebrated in Newton township at this early period ; and yet such is the narrative detailed by 'the oldest inhabitants' of to-day ; and they add, ''the celebration was in a grove, east of the place now known as Newtony ile. on **the Nolan farm,' where William Rankin now resides. There is a beautiful grove, and 'tye hardy pioneers" from the region round about, assembled and rejoiced, singing:

"Our father's God to thee - Author of liberty; To thee we sing, Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light, Protect us by thy might, Great God, our

The orator of the day, was Andrew J, Copland, of Zanesville. The Declaration of Independence was read by Joseph Monroe, a relative of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States. Everybody celebrated. There was a

"feast of reason and a flow of soul," and it is said that many were almost too full for utterance. Those days of lang syne are cherished, with many a fond recollection, by George Crooks, John Axline, John Smith, and Mrs. E. Counce, the only known survivors.

In. the fall of the year 1800, Andrew Crooks gave the use of a lot of ground on his place for a school house, and William McElree, a Scotchman of rare practical sense, and thorough education, consented to become the teacher. ° This was a condescension, in view of the primitive state of architecture, and furnishing ; but then he was there as an adventurer, seeking his fortune, and accepted the situation; and now, having entered upon the subjeet of schools, for convenience, we shall narrate what has been given to us on this matter, at this time. ''The school house up Buckeye," was built in 1800, and called by some, ''the Springer School House,'' because it was built on Jacob Springer's place - the same now owned by S. D. Springer, south of Uniontown. Timothy Wheeler was the first teacher, and was succeeded by Thomas H. Dalson. About this time, there was a school house on the Abbott place, half a mile east of the site now occupied by Newtonville. Mrs. Rankin remembers attending this school, which was taught by John Matthews. When the creek was up, they had to cross on logs; at other times she rode on horseback, with a little sister in her lap and another on behind.

Daniel Poe taught school in ''the old log cabin," on the Rankin place, in 1810. The following persons are remembered as a part of ''the class of 1820": Noah Tanner, James D. Walpole, Luke Walpole, and Mary Walpole.

The Lamb School House, a neat and substantial structure, was built near where the Crook's School House stood, and so named in honor of its principal patron. This institution of learning, in turn, gave way for the Walpole School House, on the old Athens road, about four miles east of Roseville. Contemporary.with this school, was that on ''the Maysville Pike,' about one mile west of Newtonville, taught by George Spencer, deceased. Jonathan Hatcher, Jonas Burton, and Mrs. Eliza Rankin, attended this school.

The first common school was opened in Uniontown, in 1848, and flourished until 1852, and was under the supervision of the Rev. William M. Ferguson, President of the School Board. The schools prior to this date, were known as subscription schools. With the inauguration of the free, or common school system, pay schools disappeared almost entirely. For our account of the common schools, the reader is referred to the annual report of the Superintendent of common schools of Muskingum County.

Kent's Run was named by him. What became of him, is not now known; it is presumed he did not follow his profession, as Dr. Mathews, ot Putnam, generally practiced here.

Exvection Day. - The first regular election, in Newton Township, was held at the house of William Fellows, west of Newtonville, in the designation of to-day. William Lawrence was the acting constable, and Jacob Crooks became the first Justice of the Peace. No record of these events has been found in the records in Zanesville, or in the township. Tradition further says, Isaac Carter was a Justice of the Peace in an early day, and William Anderson was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1823, and continued to

The township was organized, in the spring of 1802. Benjamin Redman, John Beckwith and Andrew Crooks were the first township Trustees, and Isaac Carter was the first clerk.

The first election after organization, was held in the house of Alexander Nolan, situated southeast of the site since occupied by Newtonville. Alexander Nolan was the first Justice of the Peace, and William McElree the first constable. ;

There is no record of the organization of this township, or of the election, spoken of here, to be found in the County Commissioner's Journal. The earliest record of any kind by that body, was dated March 2d, i807.

Tue First Tavern. - The public spirit of Andrew Crooks, induced him to extend his hospitality to the wayfarer, and his house became known as '' Crook's Tavern,"' as early as 1804. Six men and two women were present at '' the raising'' of this house, viz.: Henry Crooks, David Olive, Joseph Carpenter, Isaac Martin. Solomon Hodge, John Mathias, Peggy Carpenter and Mary Crooks. The accomodations of '¢the tavern,"' were plain and substantial. The floor furnished the bedstead, and wild beasts their skins for covering. The food was always palatable and plenty. A traveler who sojourned with Mr. Crooks, was so favorably impressed, that he resolved to make his home at a neighborly distance, and thus the name of Chauncey Ford was added to the list of pioneers; he located near Roseville, in 1804 ; his daughter-inlaw, Mrs. J. I. Ford, informs the writer that there were no houses between there and Putnam, and that George Crooks cut a road from Powell's Mill to where he lived. Mr. Crooks continued to keep this tavern for nearly half a century; he died in 1849, aged seventy-one. -

The first road was Scut in 1805, from Putnam . to intersect the Zane Trace in Perry County,and passed through the township -diagonally from the northeast corner to the southwest corner, or nearly so. George M. Crooks remembers that

Dr. Increase Mathews laid out the road from Putnam to the bridge over Jonathan's creek, and that his father cut the road from Putnam to Perry county; that the Indians used the Zane trail, which is a little south of this; that the majority of the red skins had gone in 1800, taking the direction of Sandusky, and that those remaining, were Shawanese, and presumed they all were. And that the Indians were 'friendly. If any of the ''pale faces'? were sick, the red man would go into the woods and gather herbs and roots for medicine for them, and always took a portion themselves before giving any to their white neighbor, to show that it was not poisonous. Nor did they stop here, for they shared their game with the whites. Andrew Crooks was a hunter, and had hunters hired, and this, perhaps, had its influence, as it is common for men who follow the chase, to fraternize in this way. George Crooks remembers that game was so abundant that wild turkeys were killed with stones, it being deemed a waste of ammunition to shoot them.

When Andrew Crooks came to Zanesville, there was but one house at Cambridge and one near Lancaster, and they were the homes of his nearest neighbors. His daughter, Nancy Crooks, was the first white girl that came to Zanesville. He remembers that his uncle Henry had his wife with him, and that they had no children. And when his mother came to Newton township, she had not seen the face of a white woman for nine months. And that his parents came to this region on horseback, camping at night, and turning their horses loose after belling them. His uncle Henry went west, while Jacob was sheriff, (1808-12). He remembers that William McCullock, who married the halfbreed daughter of Isaac Zane, was killed during the war of 1812, '' out west.'' And that there were no settlers here when Andrew Crooks came to Newton, ie., those who were here did not mean to stay, and called themselves squatters. Joseph Carpenter and Mathew Gillespie were of this class, and they moved off as the country settled. George M. Crooks was born May gth, 1795, and was "three years old when his parents arrived at Zanesville. Lewis Nye built the first hewed log house in this section, about 1809, on ground now a part of Newtonville. He cleared the first field and planted corn on section nine, in 1804, now the G. W. Rankin estate. Mrs. Eliza Rankin, consort of G. W. Rankin, deceased, whose maiden name was Nye, says her father and David Olive bought the half section that Jennings had entered, but could not pay for in the time allotted by the Government. David Olive died from the bite of a rattlesnake, the same year, (1804), and he had a coffin, a very unusual thing in this region in those days; people being buried, nearly always, in elm bark, lined with grass, and the ends stuffed with moss. This was the case with a man named Davis, and another, and a woman named Palmer, and three children, who came over the Falls in a canoe and were drowned, and were buried in elm bark slips.

The first grist and saw mill in this region was probably built by Moses Plummer, and was situated on ee creek, near the site more recently occupied by Crook's bridge, about one mile east of the site now Union Town. During 1807, James Jeffries had a mill, perhaps on the site now occupied by the C. & M. V. Railway station. A third mill was built about the same place in 1808, by Isaac and Caleb Jones. In 1812, the Crook's Mill was built, and the first Post Othice in the township was kept there by Jacob Crooks, the proprietor. In 1818, Jacob Smith employed John Herrington to put up a saw mill for him, on the site occupied by the Jeffries mill. This mill was leased to John Smith, in 1826, and it, too, was burned. Moses, Caleb, and Isaac Jones built a mill on the creek where Powell lives, about the year 1840.

During 1812, Jacob Funk, the blacksmith, opened his shop.on a part of the site that became the nucleus of Union Town. He was a skilled workman, and made swords for the soldiery of 'the war of 1812;" also made dies for printing scrip, a kind of money in common use in those days, and corresponding to the ''shin-plasters"' of later times. During this year also, another son of Vulcan set up his anvil in the new settlement, and Jacob Funk had a rival in William Bash. These worthies rang out their anvils in chorus, early and late, and forged for the denizens of the distant forests, as well as the villages. Thomas Brown started his fire in 1838. Gabriel Keys, a pioneer blacksmith in Newtonville, is regarded a good oe aia in spite of his weight of years.

The whiskey mills were an institution second only in importance "to the flour mill, in the estimation of ''ye pioneer.' John Leonard and Anthony Mauk are said to have been the first in this region to engage in the manufacture of whiskey. Jacob Crooks had a '' distillery '' near Union Town in 1815 ; J. M. Adams was his '¢ First Lieutenant." John Watermire had a '*worm'"' on his place about the same time.

There is no account of any revenue derived from this business, and it is probable they paid no tax. On dit, that whiskey was purer and cheaper then than now.

The First Tannery

John Hendricks established his tanyard on Jonathan's creek, near Uniontown, ''in an early day." His son, Thomas A., became Governor of Indiana.

In this, as in every abode of men, there were shadows, as well as sunshine ; and it seems trite to say more than that there never was an Eden ''old Time" did not enter with his scythe, even among the fairest flowers, and so it came to pass that the necessity was felt that a regular cemetery be set apart. It was located on Benjamin Croy's place, on Buckeye.

The First Births

Porter & Hook opened a store near Crook's bridge, in 1813 or 1814. G. W. Rankin started a store, on the Rankin place, in 1838. This was the first store in Newtonville.

The first salt well was bored by Mr. S. Lenhart, in 1815, a little south of the site now occupied by Uniontown, and demonstrated that salt could not be made there in paying quantities.

Uniontown was laid out by John Porter and Henry Hummell, in 1815. The first store, and tavern, were kept by John Porter. Several houses had been built on the site, before the village was laid out.

Uniontown Directory, I881

'*The subscriber informs the public that his clothiers' works are in operation, on Jonathan's creek, being the works formerly owned by John Harrington, and now by John Slack - about four miles from Zanesville.

'*He will receive cloth at the houses of Andrew Crooks, Jacob Crooks, David Tipton, Levi Chapman, and at my house, in Putnam, to which places the cloth will be returned, when dressed; having such a stock of dye-stuff, and workmen who so well understand the business, as to be able to form every color desired.

Newtonville is situated near the site of the old log school-house. The limits have since been extended so as to take that site in, and it is now occupied by a neat, frame, school building.

The first store kept in this town, was by A. Weller & Co., about 1852. This site is now occupied by the general store, and postoffice, kept by Andrew Wilson Dugan, who, for the last ten years, has met the wants of the community, 1n merchandise, and, as Postmaster, has become so favorably known.

Mr. A. Keyes, the venerable blacksmith, came here and built his fire, some thirty years ago, and is now assisted by his son, who is also Township Clerk.

J. C. Gillespie, a native of this township, has lived about sixty years amid the scenes of his childhood, esteemed by all who know him. James Llewellyn, his cotemporary, shares the confidence of the people with him.

William Rankin and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, parents of George Rankin, of Newtonville, came from Ireland,.and settled near the town of later period, in 1820. That they were lured to come by the glowing descriptions of their American Paradise, is not improbable, as perhaps no re- and to this he added the enthusiastic admiration for American freedom which thrills, especially, those who have once known the absence of it in their natal home. But it is more likely that their affection for their children, whom they followed to this country, dominated every other sentiment. And this whole-heartedness soon made him popular in his new home, where, in 1830, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and filled that office several terms. He died in 1848, at the advanced age of eighty. His widow and sons, Grafton and Charles, moved to Barnesville, where she died.

Pottery

The first pottery, for stone-ware, was started in 1814, by Jacob Rosier, on a place now owned by Rankin. The next was started by A. Ensminger, about 1828. In 1874, Harrison Suttle started a pottery in Newtonville, running three wheels.

The pottery of Joseph Rambo is situated in the extreme northwest corner of Newton township, near Gratiot road, and was built in 1863, at an expense of about four hundred dollars, including the shop and kiln. Mr. Rambo has had to employ an average of three hands, including himself. The average number of gallons of pottery made, per year, has been about forty © thousand, worth, in the market, from three and one-half to eight cents per gallon. The kinds of ware made consist of jugs, jars, pans, and churns, and they are remarkable for durability, neatness of pattern, and finish.

Ohio Goshen Methodist Episcopal Church

The Goshen Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1830, by Rev. John Goshen, assisted by Rev. Morris Chandler. Among the members were Amos Reese, Nehemiah Bell, John Hoover, LL. Adamson, B. Dezelem, Johu Rose, Jacob Mauk, Edward Rose, Jonas ee Mrs. Vicars, Mrs. Lydia Stokely, and Susan Warner.

The society erected a hewed log house of worship in 1835, thirty-five by forty feet, on Mt. Goshen, five miles east of Koseville, on the Athens road.

From the date of organization up to the time of the formation of **The Bell Church" on Brush Creek, in 1848, and the church at Roseville in 1846, the Goshen Church prospered, but soon after these subtractions it began to wane, and in 1852 the conference decided to disband the society. and it was merged into other churches.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Uniontown was organized about 1830, by the Revw's. Samuel Hamilton and James Gilruth. Among the members at this time were Henry Roberts, Isaiah Gardner, John Bowers, Jonathan Hatcher, Judge John Mckhaney, and their families.

They worshiped from house to house, and in school houses, until 1840, when they erected a commodious frame structure - rather hastily - just after a camp meeting, which stood until another more substantial and suitable was built, in 1875; and recently they have built a new church, with a cupola and bell.

son the Presiding Elder. The present »preacher in charge is Rev. 'B. F. Thomas. The membership is about eighty. There has always been a Sunday School connected with the church.

The first cemetery in Uniontown was formally set apart for the purpose in 1830; and the first person buried there was Thomas Hardy, May 19, 1835.

Andrew Dugan started his tannery in 1835, and is still in the business. And during this year Caleb Hitchcock started his store; it was where John Ungemach lives.

Stofel Menhark started a saw mill, a little southwest of Newtonville, in 1835. The mill was owned by Alfred Mathews in 1860; he then sold it, moved to Putnam and died, the same year.

The Uniontown Baptist Church was organized July 2, 1842, by Rev. Levi Sigfred. The Deacons elected at that time were " Benjamin Moore and William Moore. The membership numbered eighteen. The trustees were Ezra Madden, E. Be Lake and Benjamin Moore. Rev. W. Dan- iels is the present pastor, and Ezra Madden and K. W. Moore are the Deacons. The present number of communicants is about fifty. They havea neat frame church, thirty-five by forty-tive, thirteen feet high, with cupola fifty feet high, from the ground, and a good bell. The trustees are at present E. B. Lake, Emmanuel Bough and W. Moore.

Samuel Milhouse and John Reed were chosen Ruling Elders, and John Smoch was elected Deacon. Rev. H. C. McBride solicited and obtained about six hundred dollars, (traversing parts of six counties), to purchase alot and erect a church in Uniontown, which was accomplished within a year from the date of organization. About this time, Rev. Wm. Ferguson came to the church, and a neat little house of worship (3545) was erected under his superintendence. Rey. M. A. Beamer is the present Pastor. Wm. Carter and J. Wilkins are the Elders, and D. Hugins and James Slach are the Deacons. The membership numbers forty seven.

This township was united with the world at large, by the advent of the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad, which, passing through, opened its station in 1853, and with '*the rest of mankind," the following year, by telegraph, introduced by that company.

The Dunkards built a church on Mount Goshen, four miles east of Roseville, in 1860. John Roberts was a zealous member of that denomination, and preached at his own house a long time before the church was built. Elijah Horn, John Stoneburner, old Mrs. Ilorn, John Roberts and wife, and Manley Roberts, were among the early members.

The Dunkard Church was built by subscription in the community, and was to be free for all Christian Denominations, when not used by the Dunkards; this condition was set forth in the subscription paper; but as Mr. Roberts died before the meeting house was completed, and it was finished by Elijah Horn, this provision was ignored, Mr. Horn refusing to permit other denominations to use it, and itis now a solitary monument of the existence of that peculiar people.

The Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 1865, by Rev. John Burns, in the Powell School House. with the following members: Jeremiah Springer and wite, Josephus Powell and wife, Mrs. Mary Hall, Charlotte Hall, and others whose names are not remembered at' this time, and as no record was made of the event we are constrained to this meagerness, for want of sufficient witnessing in other details. The society erected a neat frame house of worship, thirty-- tive by forty-five feet, having a cupola with bell in it; the church was located in the beautiful grove near Powell's mill, on the Roseville road.

The Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

The number of Past Grands in attendance is twenty-five, viz: John Watkins, E. Van Atta, J. Smitley, J. Zeigler, A. E. Henderson, Josephus Powell, Edmund Rudolph, John Dollins, Joseph Llewellyn, J. H. Crooks, James Barnet, Isaac Barnet, O. H. Norman, H. C. McLain, J. H. Beachem, W. Curry, Washington Day, G. W. McLain, F. M. Frederick, S. a Medinet Ge A. Hays, Frank Stires, D. J. Johnson, ROB. Jones, W. J. Roberts. The membership now numbers 85.

Muskingum Lodge, No. 368, F. And A. M.

Ly 'he organization is under many obligations to S; Stacker Williams. of Newark, Ohio, whom it looks: to.as the father of the institution. The membership now numbers torty-five.

Fultonham Academy

This school originated in 1870, under the Special School District Board ; Dr. E. Van Atta, Dr. O. M. Norman and Jeremiah Zeigler, Esq. : with A. W. Search, teacher in the Public School.

The building is of brick, two stories and a basement, 40x60 feet, and has one acre of ground in the enclosure. The total cost was $10,000. The outlay for apparatus, $500 ; for library, $750.

Teachers. - The Academy will be watier the immediate charge of the Principal, Prof. D. W. Parks, a graduate of the Classical Course of Ohio University, late Principal of Madison Academy, formerly Principal of Fostoria Normal School, and such assistant teachers as may be necessary to meet the wants of the Academy.

Location. - The institution is located at Fultonham, now known as Uniontown, Muskingum county, Ohio, on the Zanesville and Maysville Pike, nine miles southwest of Zanesville. Daily mail and hack connect Fultonham with Zanesville and Somerset, from which points any part of the State may be easily reached by rail. Roseville Station, on the C. & M. V. Railway, is within five miles. The institution is thus of easy access, and at the same time free from the influences usually surrounding railroad towns.

Jonathan's creek, which is believed to be the same as the Maxville limestone. The bottom of the stone was not seen, but a well dug in the village passed through fifteen feet of limestone. The upper layer shows a chocolate tint. tis reported that this limestone is seen for tive miles, in Jonathan's creek, above Newtonville, and disappears one mile below. On Kent's run, which joins the North Fork of Jonathan's creek at Newtonville, itis said to be seen for nine miles. About fifty feet above the limestone at Gladstone's Mill. was founda stratum of sandstone fifteen inches thick. on which are very fine impressions of marine plants, Spirophyvton Caudigalli, etc., etc.. and mingled with these were well detined stigmarice of the coal measures plants. They had been all drifted together and embedded in sand.

'A section of the rocks, near Cusac's Mill, on Jonathan's creek, showed an unusually bluish, and fine grained sandstone, about thirty feet below the limestone, believed to be the Putnam Hill limestone. It has been much quarried and used, although it has not always weathered well. As a general thing, the shales largely prevailed, often find that where the streams have, in their work of erosion, succeeded in cutting down through the Putnam Hill limestone, they have, in all cases where the fall makes it possible, scored their way through the shales to the top of the Maxville, or Newtonville limestone. This is very well seen in the neighborhood of Newtonville. On John Lyle's land, section fourteen, the lower seam, three feet ten inches thick, is extensively mined. There is a layer of nodular iron ore a few feet below the upper coal, which we will notice hereafter. Theiron ores, so far as they have been examined, are of the siderite (proto carbonate of iron) class, the exterior surfaces which have been exposed to atmospheric agencies only being changed to the sesqui oxide of iron.

"The carbonic acid might, in some cases, have originated in marine vegetation, which, in the form of tacoids, of the type of sprrophyton cauda galli, was abundant at certain periods during the formation of this lower coal measure group. There is a tendency to the formation of flint, in connection with the layers of iron ore, found about thirty feet below the Putnam Hill limestone. This stratum is far below the flint, or buhr, of Flint Ridge.

Iron Ores

**Tt is almost impossible to make a section of the lower strata of the productive coal measures, at any place, in the field included in this report, without disclosing more or less iron ore. There which the ore is almost always seen. of the Maxville limestone, iron ore was seen at several points. On section fourteen, on the farm of Joseph Rambo, nodules of iron ore were found resting upon the great Maxville, or Newtonville, limestone. probably it is an excellent ore.

of coal. The surface of the flint stratum is covered with impressions of the marine plant, sp/rophyton cauda gall, allied species. Fifteen feet above is a thin layer of sandstone, with the same vegetable impressions upon it.

In the Report for 1873, by E. B. Andrews, Assistant Geologist in charge of the survey for the Second District, which embraces Muskingum county, reference is made to the Report for 1869, and the following is added:

«The limestone in the bed of Jonathan's creek, the equivalent of the Maxville limestone, and ihe best representative in the State ot the lower carboniferous limestone of Illinois and Missouri, is a deposit of very great scientific interest. This formation extends several miles above Newtonville, on all the leading branches of the creek. In places, the upper layers are buff colored, and an analysis of the sample taken near J. Roberts', section fourteen, showed the presence of considerable magnesia. I copy the analysis, by Prof. Wormley, from former Report:

'«Probably the whiter and purer portions ot the stone contain little else than carbonate of lime. Experiments should be tried with the buff stone, to determine the value of its lime for hydraulic purposes.

Putnam Hill limestone; the latter is seventy-two feet higher. Sixty-three feet above this is the lower New Lexington coal, mined at the Miami Company's mines, in section twenty-eight. The upper New Lexington seam, the equivalent of the Straitsville, or Nelsonville seam, is also mined at the same mines. The seams are twenty-two feet apart. The lower one is three feet ten saches thick, and the upper one four feet. The coal is generally of excellent quality. I have no doubt that there are in this township workable seams of Such ores are found north and east, and will be found here. when careful search is made."