Olive Township

Olive Township

Its ()h(;amzation as a Township of MoiuiAN County, 1H19 - Rkougamzation in 1S51 - Des<'i<ii*tion of its BoiNDAUiKs - Namks OF Tax-paykks in 18:26 - Vau'ation AND Tax of tiik Township in that Yeau - New England Settleks - The

AND Others - Samuel Allen, the Pioneer Miller of the Valley - Jud<;e Clark - Captain Blake - Squire Free - Early and Prominent Families - William Miller, the Oldest Mason in the Country - Early Industries - Distilleries - Old-Time FARMiN(i Implements - Reminisuences of an Early Settler - An Early Sch(M)L - Olive, the Oldest Village - Its Origin, Growth and I)e- ( line - Other Villa(;es - *' Sckum," Moundsville. South Olive and Dudley - Chuiuhes.

OLIVE was organized as a town- corner of section 3*v in township ship of Morgan County in IS 19. nnnd)er i) of range 1>; thence north In 18r»l the connnissioners'of Noble to tlie nortlieast corner of Siiid town- County altered and estahlishcd its ship number ^> of range 0; thence boundaries, making them as follows: west along said townshi[) line to the '* Commencing at the southeiujt northwest corner of the east half of section 5 in said township number <> and range 9; thence south through the center of sections number 5, 8, 17, 20, 29 and Z"! to the southwest corner of the east half of section 32 in said township number 6 and range 9; tlience along said township line to the place of beginning - con. taining twenty-seven sections."

"Olive Township, Guernsey County, \vas organized June 3, 1810, from a part of Buffalo Township, which was erected in 1810. The Guernsey County line, prior to the erection of Morgan County in 1819, ran east and west through tlie center of what is now Olive Township. The original Olive Township probably extended west wardly and northwardly several miles. Ko description of its boundaries can be found.

The following is a list of the holders of real estate in Olive Township in 1826, taken from the Morgan County tax duplicate for that year: Theodocius Armstrong, Samuel Allen, John Allen, James Archibald, William Eoon, Thomas Boyd's heirs, William Bovd, William Bell, Israel Blake,Benjamin Blake, Simeon l)Iake, Robert Caldwell, John Caldwell, Isaiic Cunningham, Sherebiah Clark, Aurelius Clark, Joseph L. Clark, Isaac Devore, Levi Davis, Joseph Davis, Charles Davis, William Free, Matthew Grimes' heirs, Jelferscm Glidden, DennisGibbs, John Glidden's heirs, William Glidden, Alexander Greenlee, Isaac Hill, Ejisha^ Harris' heii*s, David Ilutchins, Stephen Ilutchins' heirs, Joseph Hutchins, Jr., Ilollis Ilutchins, Daniel Ilutchins, David Ilussey, James

Very few names on the foregoing list are those of non-residents. The township was much larger in territory then than at present. This list may be I'egarded as an authentic record of the pioneer settlei-s of Olive Township in the year 1<S26. By far the greater number of families came fi'om New England, chieHy from Maine. A few came before the war of 1S12, and the rest immediately aftiM' its close. They were nearly all pool*, but generally intelligent, lion- orable and honest. Few of the famihes niove<l directly to Duck Creek from New Enghmd, but most of them came here after si)ending a few years within the present limits of Washington County. No part of Noble County had worthier and better citizens among its early settlere than the Township of Olive. The population was also ]>ermanent, and the present inhabitants of the township are mainly the descendants of the pioneers whose names are given above and of those who moved in a few years later. Nearly all of the first settlei's located along the AVest Fork of Duck Creek, and that part of the township was considerably imj)roved before much land was taken up elsewhere.

Kol>ert Caldwell, a Pennsylvanian, came from Washington County, Ohio, and in 18(>9 settled upon the farm on which the town of Caklwell is built. He was one of the very fii*st settlei*s in Olive Township, and the name of Caklwell has been conspicuous in the annals of Duck Ci'eek Valley ever since he settled here.

Joseph Caldwell, son of Kobert, now living in the village of Caldwell, was born on Duck Creek, m Washington County, near where Cay wood now is, in 1708, and has spent his long life in this valley. He is now the oklest resident of Olive Township. He has a number of relics of th(» olden time, among which is a carpenter's vise which his father obtained when a wagoner in Pennsylvania during the time of the Revolutionary War. JMr. C^aldwell stopped at a tavern for the night, and during the night the Hessian troops were passing continually. In tire morning when he arose he saw a cou])le of Hessians sitting u{)on a log, eating their breakfast. Mr. Caldwell and two other men went toward them, but the Hessians immediately ran, in their haste leaving behind the vise, which he secured, and which has since been kept in the family.

Samuel Allen, the pioneer miller of the valley, was the next settler below Wiley. Joseph Matheny, who came from the vicinity of Marietta, settled near Allen. Other's who lived further down the creek were Jose])h Chapman, liichanl and Gillias Doane and the Hutch i uses, all of whom came before 1812.

Sherebiah (/lark was one of the most prominent early settlers of the valley. He came from Kennebec County, Me., where he liad previously served as a re])resentative to the Massachusetts Legislature befoi-e Maine became a State. He was a man of wide views and good intellect. In religion he was a Tnivei-salist. He came here with a family of grown up children, in 1818. His sons, Joseph and Aurelius, resides! in the township. On the organization of Morgan County in 1811^ Sherebiah {^lark became one of the associate judges of that county, in which office he served for three years. Judge Clark died in 1852 and his wife in 185:]. Their children were Aurelius, Joseph, Zipporah, f^niisiU p]lvira and Polly.

Olive

a Revolutionary soldier, and was among the fii'st settlers. His sons were Jolm, llollis, David, Joseph and Daniel, all of whom lived in the county and reared families.

Captain Simeon Blake was one of the earliest settlers in the valley. He was a native of Maine, and one of the early immignints to the West. He served in General Wayne's expedition against the- Indians in 1794-5. He lived near where Dudley now is.

The earliest mill in the township, and in all probability the earliest in the county, was erected at the locality since known as Socum, as early as 1812, by Samuel Allen, assisted by the few scattering settlei's then in the valley. Although the mill was usually inactive a part of the year, owing to scarcity of water, it was a great convenience to the settlers, and for many years did a good business. A sawmill was also in operation at the siime place, erected about the same time with the gristmill. A few years later William Free put in brush, and by the aid of the drift easily constructed a dam a short distance above Allen's mill. His mill was in operation only a few years, and " never amounted to much."

William Free, who lived above Socum, was one of the early justices of the peace in the township. He was a smart man, but unscinipulous, it is said that he was sent to the penitentiary for stealing; and that when a resident of Washington County he was once publicly whipped at Marietta for some offense, before the whipping-post had been abolished. It is also said that Free was not his name, but Hamilton ; and that after he received his whipping, he shouted, " I'm free ! I'm free!" and called himself Free ever after.

Joseph Tilton and his sons, Joseph W.. Benjamin and Davis, all live<l together on a half-section in the western part of the township. Hebron Tilton, a relative, lived on a quarter-section ajoining. His children were Matthew, Alden I)., Freeman, Smith, Kufus, Eliza, liebecca and Diadema.

William Tilton was born in Kennebec (^ounty. Me., July 14, 1790, and is now living in Jefferson Township, past ninety six years of age. He is probably the oldest man in Noble Count3\ Mr. Tilton settled in Olive Township with his family soon after the war of IS 12, and resided here until recently.

Simeon Tuttle was an early settler (m the west side of the creek, and died here in 181(5. His family remained in the township, and some of the name are still here.

In 1812 Charles Davis and his sons, ('harles, Josei)h, Levi, and Enoch, and his daughters, Sarah (Cunningham), and Khoda (Morris), came from Maine and settled in the southern part of the township. All lived here and reared families, and their descendants are still numerous in the county. Enoch moved to the northern part of the State. IVIrs. {.^unningham is still living, in Kansas. The Da vises were all leading members of the liaptist Church, and good citizens.

John Glidden, a native of Maine, came from Washington County, Ohio, and settled on Duck Creek l about 1814:, where he died a few j years later, lie was a doctor, having studied medicine under Dr. Jett, at Marietta, but it is not known that | he practiced his profession after j coming here, lie was the father of Sidney and John Glidden, still living in this township. |

Silas Thorla, from Massachusetts, ; brought his family to his new lumie, , Avhere Olive now is, in 18KJ. lie had been here for about two years I previously, engaged in salt-making, i Mr. Thorla was a man of good gen- j eral information, and by profession a \ surveyor, lie was one of the early i justices of the peace, and served also as county surveyor of Morgan County. His s(m. Benjamin Thorla, - who came into the Duck Creek Valley when a small boy, is still living | at Olive, and has a vivid recollection i of pioneer times.

George Padgett, Edwai'd Wheeler, I Allen Woodford, and Charles Chan- I dler were all New Englandei's, and | resided on section H\ in early years. |

William Miller, noted as being at | the time of his death the ohlest Mason in the United States, settled i early on the farm where the ('aidwell Fair (rrounds now are. lie ! came from County Antrim, Ireland, ! and was a worthy man. His children \ were Jane, Ann, James, William, j Mary and Margaret. James lives on ; part of the old place. William Mil- I ler was born in County Antrim, I Ireland, June 0, 178:5, and died at the home of his son, neai* Caldwell,

February 8, 1882, aged ninety-eight yeai*s. He came to America in 1812, and to Ohio in 1818, settling first in Columbiana County and afterward on the farm where he died. He married Mary Reed, of New Jei'sey. He was a weaver by trade, but followed farming after coming to Ohio. In religion he was a Presbyterian. Mr. Mdler was made a Master Mason in 1801, a Koyal Arch Mason in 1804, and a Knight Templar later.

The Perkinses, Edward and William, lived on Duck Creek, and wei'c worthy represent4itives of the universiil '' Yankee nation." Edwanl removed to West Virginia, but William remained in the township until his death.

In 1818 James Webber, from Vi<mna, Me., moved to the township with his family, consisting of his wife and eight children, and settled where South Olive now is. The journey was made with a wagon and occu])ied eight weeks. The family moved into a log cabin, surrounded by a small clearing, which had been made by a former occupant. Mr. Webber died here about thirteen years later. He was the father of eleven children. William, the eldest, lives in this township. Robert and John are also living in the West. William AVebber was born in 1800, and well remembers the journey across the mountains from New England to the Ohio wilderness. Mr. Webber states that at the time of

In 1814 William and Hannah Warren came to Marietta from Massachusetts, and a few years later settled on Warren's Run, near South Olive. William Warren was a descendant of General Joseph Warren, who fell at the battle of Bunker Ilill. His sons who came here were William, now a resident of Marietta; A. I., now in Iowa; and James S., who died in Olive Township in 188^), at the age of eighty-one years. His daughters were Sophia, Pi'iscilla, Nancy and Caroline. Caroline (Webber) lives in this township and Sophia in Indiana.

Silas Thorla and Dennis Gibbs were the first justices of the peace in Olive Township, Morgan County. They were commissioned August is, 1810. Thorla resigned September 4, 1821; Gibbs served until the expiration of his term. The early townshij) elections were held at Gibbs' house, near the present site of Dudley.

Dennis Gibbs was among the earliest settlers and most prominent citizens of the township. In 1819 he was justice of the peace, and from 1821 to 1826 he was one of the commissioners of Morgan County. He was a native of Cape Cod, Mass., and came to Olive Township in IS 14, settling three miles south of CaUlwell. He was a carpenter by trade, and coming to Ohio without means, was obliged to leave his wife and two small children alone at home and go to distant points to work at his trade to obtain money wMth which to pay for his hmd. His industry and good management enabled him to secure a competency, in spite of many drawbacks and hardships. His wife was Mary Dudley, wiio was born in Maine, of Quaker parentage. Of their children, only two are now living in Noble County - Mi-s Julia Tilton and Judge Dennis S. Gibbs. Dennis (iii)bs removed to Lowell, Washington County, where he died in 1S72, at the age of eighty -two. He was originally a Whig, but became a zealous abolitionist and one of the projectors and managers of the Underground railroad. In religion he was first a Methodist; and afterwards became a member of the Christian church and a preacher of that denomination. His house w^as the meeting-place for the early Methodists of the township. Dennis Gibbs built and operated the first carding mill in this section. In company with others he heli)ed to build the first school-house in the neighlx-rhood.

Judge Oilman Dudley was one of the earliest settlers and foremost citizens. He was born in Maine in 1793, settled in Ohio in 1815, and resided in the State until his death, December 0, 1875. He was a soldier in the war of 1S12. In 1823 he married Mrs. Glidden. He was not only a pioneer as regards settlement, but also in all the reforms of the day, always for the right and against wrong. He was capable and honest and filled many |)osltionsof trust and honor. He reared an unusually bright and intelligent family, most of whom were school-toax^hers. The As a s[>ecinien of the manner in children were Erwin (t., Edwin, which some of the pioneers did busi- James, Mary, lluth and Maria. The | ness, the following contract between family tmce their ancestry back to ' Samuel Caldwell and David Gorby, the Dudleys of Dudley (-astle, Staf- for the construction of a sawmill, is fordshire, England. , j)resented. The document, however

Israel Spencer and his brother shaky its orthography may ap[>ear in Elisha, William Waggoner and these days, was sufficiently strong and Michael Shriver were early settlers in binding: the same neighborhoml. The Spen- i ''An article of an agreement made cers came from Pennsylvania. Israel and entered Into by David Gorby of carrie<l on distilling for some yeai*s. the first part of Moble Township J^lisha moved west. William Wag- Morgjin (V)unty Ohio A: Samuel Caldgoner died here about 1S30. Michael well of the Second [mrt of Olive Shriver operated a still. Whisky , Township & County & State aforemaking was one of the most profit- , said, the S<^/ Gorby doath on his part able of the early industries, and : agree to build the s^ Caldwell A sow many engaged in it. In ls;]o five Mill and gristmill forebay he is To distilleries are known to have been ' take the timber from the Stump The in operation in the township, the two timber is to be got out in first rate already mentioned and those of Is- ! Stile, The ])oasts of the Lower part of rael Blake, Isaac Devore and Will- j th(» Mill to be 12 by 12 inches Squair, iam Free. Nehemiah Spear scwm he is to Fraim the Mill & put in the afterward engaged in the j4ame bus- running Geers in first rate workmen iness. I Like nuinner He further agi'ees to

A well-known old settler wasEben- make a mill that will Saw as fast as ezer Cunningham, who died in 1851, anny other man can with the Same at the age of sixty -one years. He head of or if he dont he is to Have was a soldier of the war of 1812, and nothing for (lowing S// work, the S// as is stated on his tombstone, "one gorby is to have the timber hewe<l by of the survivors of the flagship Law- the 25/// of June next & the mill ence, under ('ommodore Perry, at the Fraimed by the fii'st day of August battle of l^ke Erie, vSeptember 10, | next And The mill redy to Saw by 181 ;i'' the first of Nov. Next

(yunningham was a carpenter and I "the S^/ Caldwell doath on his part millwright. He built and kept in | agree to Pay The S(^/ gorby one hunrepair many of the pioneer grist-mills | dred Dollars As soon as the Mill perthat were run by horse-power. forms as he has Agreed to make her

James Lowe was the name of the pi^rfonn the Srf Caldwell is to do jill fii'st settler at or near Olive. He was the bawling ite toFurnish Plank for attacked by a fit while crossing the The forebay and other uses about the creek, fell into the water and was mill allso biiises, 2 Shute Pieces timdrowned, in the summer of 1814. i ber for Saw^ gate We have boath here-

A i)aper in the poss(»ssion of Fulton Caldwell lecords the fact that on the 28th of June, 1828, a school meeting was held at the house of John Rhodes for the second district. Samuel Caldwell was appointed clerk ; JohnWiley,William Miller and Joseph Cahlwell,direciors,and lliram Caldwell, treasurer for the district. It was also agreed that a school-house should be built "at the southwest corner of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 4 in township 6 and range 9, said land belonging to Ilirani Caldwell." On the same paper are various endorsements showing that corn was used instead of currency in building the school-house. Vov the year 1827 the directors received from Sherebiah Clark, Joseph Tilton and II. Hutchins, trustees of section ir» seven bushels, three pecks and four quarts of corn. In 1828 they received from D. F. Harper, J. Scoggan and II. Hutchins, trustees of the school section, an ordei* for fifteen bushels and twenty four (piarts of corn. In 1829 they received an order for $1.90, and $1.98 in a year not mentioned. April 0, 183(>, "Received of Joseph Hutchins thirtyeight and one-half bushels of corn.'' John Wiley and Samuel Caldwell received eight bushels ''for drawing siiid corn;" Samuel Caldwell eight bushels, for cutting school-house logs; John Wiley, six bushels, ''for chinking and daubing said house," and Joseph Caldwell, six and one-half bushels '' for making clapboards for said house.''

In 1848 Socum school district (No. 4) in this t(>wnshi[) had twentyfour families living within its limits who came principally from the State of Maine, and were among the early settlers. The heads of these families* Avere David McGarry, John Caldwell, Joseph Scholield, JohnClymer, Henry Woolf, Zephaniah Zoller, John Camden, Thomas Rogers, Aurelius Hutchins, Francis Blake, Simeon Blake, Dennis Gibbs, Boling Hatton, JosejJi Hutchins, Harrison Kellar, I^vi Friel, Michael Kellar, Mi's. Woodford, Mrs. Woodward, Ebenezer Phipps, W. F. Mclntyre, Gilman Dudley, and two others.

Boling Hatton was the grandfather of Frank Hatton, of the Burlington Ilau'keije, late Assistant- Postmaster-General. He died June 1, 1874, at the age of ninety-tive. He was an 1812 soldier and one of the pioneers of Duck Creek Valley.

The old road to Cambridge, which crossed the creek Jit C^aldwell, near the present residence of Fulton Caldwell, was used as a race-course in the early yeai's. An accident which occurred in 18:^7 put an end to the sport. A young man named Thomas Taylor, a general favorite in the neighborhood, was thrown from his horse where C. Foster's house now stands, and striking head foremost u[>on a fence was rendered insensible. lie did not regain consciousness, l)Ut die<l twenty-four hours later.

Prior to 1840 Joseph Schofield liad a carding and spinning mill at Socum, run by hoi'ses in a treadmill, similar to tliat now used in sawing wood. lie did a brisk business for some years. Later John Clymer had a water grist-mill on the site of the old Allen mill.

The early settlers, and particulai'ly the New Englanders, use<l oxen chiefly in ])lowingand other kinds of farm work. The ])lows were called '* hog nosed,'' and were constructed from a forked stick, shaped into some semblance to a nu)ld-board and covered with strips of iron. Many of the plows used in this township were made by Jose|)li Caldwell, still living, James Davis doing the iron work. Hoes, forks and similar implements were very rude implements made by blacksmiths.

Among the early blacksmiths of the township were James Davis, who worked in Olive, and Frisby Davis, both Yankees ; James and Matthew Garvin, from Pennsylvania, and James IIo|)perfrom Belmont (/ounty.

April 22, IHll, a ])etition was j)resented to the commissioners of County, for a road from Cambridge "to strike Puffalo Fork of Will's ('reek at or near the mouth of Muddy Fork, thence on the same direction to strike the south boundary of Guernsey County, at or near the center of the sixth township of the ninth range." The viewei's met

"at the house of Thomas Stewail, innkee[>er," on the first Monday in April and viewed the same. The plot was signed by James Cloyd, Daniel Bean and William Tall>ot, viewers; George Archer and John Waller, chain bearers, and I-ewis Waller, axeman.

October 2*>, 181 S, on j)etition of Robert Caldwell and others, the commissioners of Guernsey County ordered a road to lie surveyed " to commence at or near the twelve-mile tree on the road from Cambridge to the Washington County line; thence nearly a south course to Benjamin Thorla's, on Duck Creek ; thence to Kobert CaldwelFs, to intersect the New Philadelphia road, to the Washington County line near Captain Blake's." James Thompson, Esq., Martin Crow and John Keller were api>ointed viewers, and George Metcalf, surveyor.

In the commissioners' journal of (Guernsey County, under date of June 1, 1S18, it is recorded that '' James Archibald* presented the petition of himself and the other trustees of Olive Township in behalf of the citizens of township B, mnge 9, praying that said township be organized agreeably to an act to incorporate the original surveyed townships; and the board being satisfied that there are twenty electors in said township, ordered an election for trustees of the school section and a treasurer, to be held at the house of Samuel Allen, the last Saturday of June, 1818."

John Wiley, Samuel Allen, David Hutehins, Doan and Chapman, Anthony Perkins, Joseph and Levi Chapman, Robert Gard, and othei*s were among the first settleis of the township.

John Wiley settled on the present Shafer farm, west of Caldwell, in 1810. lie was born on the Suscpiehanna River, near Harrisburg, Ra.; came to Ohio in 1TJ^5, Jind located at Cedar Narrows, above Marietta, where he renuiined until he came to Duck Creek. His fathei*, William Wiley, was a [)ioneer settler where Sharon Village now is, and died in 1816. John Wiley married in Washington County, Charity Severs, a native of Massachusetts. They both died on the homestead farm, near Caldwell, Mr. AViley at the age , of ninety -two and his wife at the | age of seventy-three. Their children were AVilliam, John, Abraham, David, Thomas, Jacob, James, Hamilton, Roily, Ann (Mai^shall), Betsey (Gray), Margaret (Moreland), and ] Charity A. (Womlford). Mrs. WixmI- ! ford is the only one now living. All lived to have families except John and Roily. David, Thomas, James and Ann died in this county. The others lived here many years and then went west and south.

Thomas Wiley was born in Washington County in 18(H), and came with his parents to this county. After attaining his majority he entered 160 acres of land where j Archibald Wiley now lives. There he remained until 18(>1, when he removed to the old homestead of his father, where he died in 1801). '

He married Maria Scott, a native of Rennsylvania, who was born near Hagerstown, Md. She died in 1878. They had eight children - Emeline, Delilah, Archii)ald, Eliza J. (deceased), Margaret (deceased), James, Dunlap afid Mary E. Those living are all residents of Noble (^ounty. Archibald Wiley served in Company I, Twenty-fifth Oh.o Volunteer Infantry, from June 20, 1801, to August 2<), 1804. James enlisted m the Fourth Battalion, six months' cavalry, August 1, 1808, and was mustered out with the company. Dunlap w^as in the hundred days' service.

James W. Wiley, born in 1841, has spent most of his life in this county. He is now a guard in the Ohio penitentiary at Columbus, and has held the position since June 1, 18S0. He married Rachel A. Matheny in 180^. They have five children living, one deceased.

Archibald Wiley lives on the land entered by his father, and is a prominent farmer. He was born in Olive Township, September 14, 1835. He was reared a farmer and has followed that occupation chieHy. He received a fair common-school education, and by natural aptitude and shrewdness has been successful in life, and has an enviable reputation in the community. He takes a deep interest in politics and is a firm Republican. He went as a private in the first company raised in i^Joble ('ounty - Company 1, Twenty -fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry - serving from June 20, 18r»l, to August 20, 18<I4. Among other engagements he waK in tin* lrattlc*s at Allegheny Mountain, Slaughter Mountiiin, Va., S*^;on<l Jiull Kun, and (iettysburg. In the laht nanie^l l>attle he received two slight wouniis; his regiment was in the tijickcist of the fight, and at its elowi only seventy-five men were left uninjure<| and unca|>ture<l, a second Iieut4*nant commanding. Mr. Wiley was capture*!, hut IwMng left ashMq) among the woundcMl, escaj)ed. After the battle he was employed in hospital H(?rvic<» until the following Christmas, when he rejoined the regiment at Folly Island, S. ('. There, on th(? reorganization of the regiment, he was transferred to the Sev enty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he s(»rved until mustered out. After his rtaurn, February If), 1H<;5, he was nuirried to Mary E. Brown, whose parents were early siittlei-s of Noble C-ounty. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley have no children.

Captain Simeon Hlake, one of the earliest ])i()neei's of Duck (.^reek, came from New Knglan<l to Washington County, and thence, in 1812, to the farm, on which he lived and died. There was a large family. The sons wcM'c Henjamin, Israel, Alfred, Simeon (still living in the West), Francis; the daughters, Mahala, Sybil, Lucinda, Frances and Lovina. Israel died in this townshij), in 187*^ at the ago of seventy-four. He married Elvira Clark, a native of Maine, and after her death was wedded to Tripliena Tond(\v, of Washington County, lie had a family of twenty children: Nicy, Moses, Sanline, Polly, Olive, Oliver, Alfred, Joseph, Elvira, Israel, Jr., Martha, David, Asenath, Andaline. Cydnor T., by his first wife. The offspring of the second marriage were: ' Julius A., Josiah, Jasj)er F.. Hortense and Julia A.

I^njamin also Iive<l and diet! in this township, and reareil a large family. The Blakes were worthy people, generally Universalists in l>elief.

Captain Simeon HIake died in 1>S4. He was a native of Providence, R. I. His wife, 7/i^<9 Ix)vina lieck, came from Providence, 11. 1. He was one of tlie early militia captains In his religious l>elief he was a Free-Will Baptist. John (Mdwell, one of the early settlers, was a native of Pennsylvania . and a member of the Caldwell family , elsewhere mentioned. His son, David, who lives on the homestead, was l)orn I in 1S30. In 18()1 he marrietl Adelaide I Sanford, by whom he has had one j child - Octavia M. I Andrew C. McKee, son of Dr. ; William McKee, elsewhere menj tioned, was born in 1843. After I receiving a common-school education, in 1859 he began the study of medicine, under his father's tuition. In 18r)4 he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Yolunteei' Infantry, and was discharged at the expiration of his term of service. He is a member of Xoble Post, Grand Army of the Republic. In 1805, Mr. McKee married Serene E. Daniel, of Caldwell. Three children - Cora M., Lura X., and Helen M. Since his marriage he has been engaged in farming.

until 1809, when he married Susan Ogle, of Olive Township. By this union he has had five children, all still living - Gilead A., Morris, Joseph ()., Le<xla L. and John W. Mr.McKeehas ; followe<l farming and stock-raising. | )ne of the pioneers who came ' prior to 1812 was Elisha Harris, I from Fauquier County, Va. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and had served three *' tours" in the army. ' He and his sons were noted hunters I and trappers. Ilis wife died at the age of over one hundred years. Among his children were Stephen, Morgan, George and Elijah. All except Elijah settled in Enoch Township, where their descendants still remain. George was a successful and widely known hunter. Stephen moved to West Virginia, where he is still living at an advanced age. Elijah remained on the old homestead in Olive Township. lie died in 1844. lie married Elizabeth Powell, also a native of Virginia. She died in 1882. Their son, David A., now occupies the farm. He enlisted in 1862, in Company K, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and wjis discharged in December of the same year on account of wounds received ^it Antietam.

Joseph Tilton and his wife and three sons came from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., to Olive Township about 1818. His sons were Benjamin, Joseph W. and Davis. Jose])h W. married M.arv D. Lund, of Washiuirton County, and reared nine sons and two daughtei's. He was a Presbyterian, and one of the early schoolteachers. He died in 1870. His

Allen Woodford and wife {nee Woodruff) with a family of five children came from Connecticut to Marietta in 1817. Five children were afterwards born to them, and all are still living, viz.: Andrew, Lydia A. (Wheeler), Aranda M., Helen (Colbig), Harry, Mary (Wiley), William, Hiram, and Elvira and Elmira (twins). The family came to Olive Township in 1818, where the parents died some years ' later. Aranda M. Woodford, a prominent farmer, lived at home until his marriage with Mercy Wheeler, by whom he had eleven children. His wife died in 1881, and he afterwards nuirried Elizabeth McWilliams. One child has been l)orn of this union. Mr. Woodford is a member of the Baptist church.

In 1825 Benjamin Weekley, with his wife ?:nd eight children, came from Belmont (^ounty and settled in this township. Of the family, two sons and two daughters still live in Noble (younty, and two children are deceased. In 18:^5 Benjamin's father, William Weekley, originally from Virginia, came here from Belmont County. William Weekley died in 1850, and his wife in 1848. Benjamin died in 180(); his wife in 1848. William Weekley, the oldest son of Benjamin, was born in Belmont (/ounty in 1810. In 18:56 he married Margaret Harris, and settled on a farm adjoining his father's. He is the father of eight children by his first wife, four of whom are living. Mi-s. Weekley died in 1850. In 1857 he inarried Miss (\ B. Archer, of this township. To them have been born six ehihlren. George AVeekley, son of William, was born in 1842. He is at present one of the infirmarv^ directors of the county. He married Emily Archer, and is the father of six children, five of whom are living. All of the family are Methodists.

Levi Weekley was born in lielmont County in 1828, and came to Olive Township with the family in 1S25. In 1848 he married Maria Fogle. To them have been born eight children, five of whom are living. Mr. Weekley is engaged in farming. The family are Methodists.

William Cain and family came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early date. They reared nine children, two of whom are living in Noble County - one in Sharon Townshi]) and one in ()li\e. Nathaniel Cain was born in Morgan County in 1S2H. At the age of seventeen he began learning the cabinet-nuxker's trade with Jaines Hellyer, and followed that business for twenty -five years. He has since been engaged in farming. In \SW he enlisted in the ifexican war, but was discharged two weeks after his enlistment. In 1S47 he married Rebecca Willey. Of their seven children six are living - AVilliam IL, Valentine H., Sarah J., Catharine (Ward), Mdvy A., and Elizabeth (\ (Heddleston). Mr. Cain has served as towiishi]) trustee* and in otiuM* local officios.

born in County Down, Ireland, in 1813. At the age of seventeen he came to America with two brothers, landing in Quebec. In 183(^ he c^nie to Olive Township, where he entered eighty acres, which is now a part, of the farm of Samuel Ackley. The place was then unimproved. Mr. Radcliflf worked alone until 1837. He then married Jane Miller, of Noble Township. They had seven children, four of whom are living - William, who married Eliza Shriver (who is now deceiised), Martha (Davis), Ann (Willey) and David II. Mr. liadcliflf is a Fniversalist and a Mason.

Samuel Ackley, a representative farmer, was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1S31, and in the same year came to Olive Township with his parents. He remained at home until 1852, when, with eight or ten others, including the McKees, he left for California, crossing the isthmus. The journey occuj)ied about forty-one days. Mr. Ackley remaineii in California five years, and while there woi'ked most of the time in the Nevada mines. Returning to Noble Countv he bouijht the farm on which he now lives, and in 1858 returned to California for a year to settle uj) some land interests. In 1861 he married Melinda Ogle, of this township. Six children were born of this union, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are Francis W., W. Walton, Charles M., Abna and Bertha. His wife died in 1883. and in the foUowi]ig year he married Sarah McGarry - one child, Clyde. Mr. Ackley is a Cniversalist.

Olive Township in 1836. He followed farming, and in the later years of his life was in the mercantile business at Caldwell, and afterwards at Dudley, being two years in each place. He (lied in 1883. Mr. Morgareidge was a member of Sharon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Ilniversalist church. He married Asenath Blake, in 1859, who is still living m Dudley, and owns the store property. Three children are living - Edgar, OUie and Mary. Edgar was married to Mary J. Ilutchins, in 1882, and lives on a part of the Hutchins place. Joseph Pan'ish, one of the eleven children of Edward Parrish, who locateil in Sharon Township, in 1810, wjus born in Belmont County in that year, and came to Morgan (now Noble) County with his parents when but three months old. In 1842 he was married to Nancy Boyd, daughter of one of the early settlers. By this union he had two children, one of whom is living - Wiley Parrish, who served in the late \var in Company D, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Mrs. Parrish died in 18t>7, and in 1870 he married Mary R- Lowe, of Sharon Township. To them were born two children, one of whom is living - Stella. His second wife having died, in 1880 Mr. Parrish married Kate Smoot, also of Sharon Township. Mr. Parrish is a prominent farmer. The family belong to the Methodist church. He was reared on the farm of his father, received a common-school education, and has devoted his life to farmmg, and is one of the reputable citizens and farmers pf the township.

Elwin T. Gouchenour was bom in Olive Township in 1847, and is a farmer, living upon the homestead where his father settled. In 1871 he married Nancy J. Elliott, of this county, by whom he has had two children - Jesse and Minnie M. The former died at the age of four years. Mr. Gouchenour is a member of the Methodist church.

Nathan J. Ramsey was born in Pennsylvania in 1825. In 1836 he came to Harrison (^ounty, Ohio, and in 1848 to Olive Township. In the following year he married Margaret Steen : two children - Mary A. (deceases!) and David. The latter married Hannah Fnincis and resides in Olive Township. The first Mrs. Ramsey died in 1863, and in 1864 Mr. Ramsey married Ellen Gore, who died in 1878. In the following year he married Hannah J. Ilutchins. The family are members of the Disciples' church. Mr. Ramsey has served several yeai-s as township trustee.

Martin D. Poling was born in Guernsey (.^ounty in 1823. In 1847 he married Martha McKee, a member of one of the old Noble County families. They have five children - Ezra, Mary, Abbie (Davis), David and Ira. Mr. Poling is engaged in farming.

Eston W. Daniel was born in Loudon County, Ya., January 5, 1800. He came to Belmont County, Ohio, at the age of seven years, thence removed to Rrookfield Township, now in Noble (.'ounty, in 1837, and began the work of clearing and improving a farm. He remained in Brookfield seventeen years. In 1833 he inarried Elizabeth Edwaiils, of BehHont County, who died in 1SS2. Of their five children, three are still livin«r. Serene, his dau "-liter, is the wife of Andrew (\ McKee.

William lloss was horn in Westmoreland County in ISB."), and in 1849 came to Ohio with his parents, Clement and Jane Ross, who settled in Sharon Township. William lived in that township twenty years, and in Jackson Township eleven yeai*s, coming to liis present farm in Olive Townsliip in ISSO. Mr. lloss has followed farmin*i;, and at ])resent is devoting much attention to horticulture, making a s])ecialtv of small fruits. lie was one of the fii*st in Noble County to introduce strawberries and raspberries, and has been successful in their culture. In 185*> he married Nancy Ann Hell, of Morgan County. They have had eleven children, ten of wliom are living. Mr. Ross is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. He served as county ccmiinissioner in 1875- S, and was instrumental in furthering the ado])- tion of an im])rovxHl system of roads in Noble County.

John and Susan Ilaga came from Allegheny County, Pa., and settled in Sharon Townshij) in 1S2<>. Mrs. llaga died in lsr)r>, jVfr. Ilaga in 187'^, at the age of seventy -four. Their son Paul married Carohne Cooper, whose parents, Solomon and Mary Cooper, came from Ilampsiiire County, AV. Va., in 18:U. Mr. Coo|>er settled at Sarahsville, wIumv he followed tanning. May 1, lS4r), tin* tannery was burned and Mr. Cooper died May -M,

Aaron Haines was born in Jackson : Township in 1827; his parents were early settlei-s in that locality. In I 1840 he married llannali, daughter of Rev. Renjamin Rlake. The latter ! is said to have been the first white child born at Mariettii. They have I four children. Mr. Haines is a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and I Grand Army of the Itepublic. He I enlisted in 1801, in Company F, Six- ' ty-thinl Ohio Volunteer Infantry; servtnl one year, and was discharged ' on account of partial blindness.

John W. Green w^as born in Woods- I iield, December 11, 1840. His father, I William R. Green, was a native of Maine and a seafaring man ; he came to Monroe County, Ohio, when twenty-four years old : died in hospital during the late war. John W. Green enlisted in December, 1802, inCom])any G, Seventy seventh Ohio Volunteer I Infantry, and was discharged in

December, 1S()5. He was in ent^a<»:ements at Little Kock, ifark's Mills, Jenkins' Ferry, Spanish Fort, Blakel y and Mobile; was an orderly on s])ecial and dangerous duty. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a Kepublicaii. Mr. Green was married in 18S0 to Sarah J. Lamp, of Middleburg. Children: Carrie M., Isiiac M., Chauncy E. and Ada F. He is a farmer and carpenter.

William Tilton, one of the few pioneers still living, was born in Maine in 1790. In 1815 he removed to Olive Township, where he entered IHO acres of land. He married Ze])horah, daughter of Judge Shei'ebiah Clark. Theii' children were Lovina, Sherebiah (\, Asenath, Albert, Josei)h (\, Benjamin B. and William. Mr. Tilton is a Republican and a strict Baptist. He now lives with his son Albert, near Dexter City.

On the present James Ogle farm Jefferson Glidden kept a small store, as far back as 1830, for a short time. This was probably the earliest nu*i'- cantile establishment in the towiiship excepting Robert McKee's, at Olive.

David Radcliff, a settler of 1880, has favored the writer with nmny interesting reminiscences. He i*eraembers when there were only three wagons in his neighborhood, and few, if any more, in the township. These wagons were owned by Michael Morrison, Sr., AVilliam Scoggan aiid his son John, and James Archibald. They were large cumbrous affairs, re(juiring four or six horsts to draw them, and were known as Pennsylvania road wagons.

rought to the township by Hebron,^ ilton and John Bell, and jointly owned by them. It was sold by Murduck it Jenkins, who lived near McConnelsville.

In the fall of 1837 Allen Stevens, who lived on Meigs Creek, near McConnelsville, brought the fii'st threshing machine into the township. He tirst came to Benjamin Thorla's, and thence to David Radcliff. The machine was run by treadinill or "'endless chain-' power, one horse oidy being used.

The young peo])le in early times had to resort to nuiny ex[)edients in order to be decently and becomingly dressed. Few could afford anything better than homespu]) and hoineinade garments. Incidents are related of young men borrowing a suit, or a part of a suit of clothes in order to make a favorable impressi(m when calling u))on some particular lady friend. Frequently young men went bai'efooted, carrying their shoes in their hands until near their destination, in making such calls.

The first justices of the peace in this townshi]), after its reorganization as a part of Noble County, were John C Ileadley and Jonathan I). Gil)bs. The former enteivd ui)on the duties of his office July 7, IS.")!, and the latter July 14, 1S.">1.

Tlu^ earliest school in th(» township, and ))erhaps the earliest in the county, was taught in the Socum district, as early as is 1(1. The Yankee* sett l(;rs hatl not been h(»r(» long lM*f(H'(' they criH'tiHJ a school-hous(» and sought to provide instructi(m for their children. The old log schoolliouse stood on the present McAtee farm, then the land of Joseph Ilutchins, Jr. Among the early teachers were Barnabas f'rosby, Asa huvlingjime, and Joseph Westcott. The scholars came from all the country from three to four miles around.

To one unac<(uainted with the history of the place, it would scarcely seem possible that the dilapidated and antiquated village of Olive, now bearing within itself all the evidences of decay, was once a most ))rosperous and thrifty town. Vet such is the fact. \h\t since the vounofer village of Caldwell sprang into being, growing steadily and substantially, Olive has been as steadily and as constantiv declinin<i:» Two small stores and a blacksmith's shoj) are all that remain in the way of commercial and industrial mterests. And the streets of the village, which <mce resounded with the tread of able lawyei*s, editors and politicians, are now as silent as those of Ooldsmitlfs ** Sweet Auburn."

r^)ng l)efore any town started here - as early as 1S20 - Robert McKee o])ened a store and engaged in the mercantile business, at first in a very small way. Pi'ior to that time all the settlei'S of the vicinity had been accustoined to go to Marietta for the few articles of merchandise used in their families. McKee's goods were brought from 13arii(\^ville. through the woods, on ])acl\ h()rs<*s, a distance of thirty-on(» mih^s. I>enjamin Tlioria, who freipieiitly made the trip to bring goods to Mr. McKee, sa} s there were but four houses between Olive and Barnesville, and that the road, for the greater part of the distance, wa« a mere path thix)ugh the woods. Robert McKee continued the mercantile business many years, and accumulated a good proi>erty. I lis son David succeeded him in the store.

Not long after McKee's store wju? starteil, ii iM>stolfice, doubtless the first in Noble County, was established at Olive and supplied with a weekly mail from Marietta. Robert McKee was postmaster. The old office is now discontinued.

The town of Olive, Robert McKee, ])roprietor, was surveyed and i)latted by John F. Tallev, surveyor of Morgan County, in February, 1839. The plat Wiis recorded July 17, 1841.

Among those who first loc»ated in the viHage were Dr. William McKee, John Ileadley and Frisby Davis. James Davis, from Washington County, started the first blacksmith shop, and in a few years nearly every variety of business usually carried on in counti'y villages had its representative.

The buying of tobacco and hauling it to the river for shipment became an im])ortant business in Olive. Robert McKee was the fii'st shi])])er. A second ston* w;us opeiied by John and Joseph AV<^hr, the third by James McCune; Joseph Wehr sold out to J. W. Tipton. The business of the i)Iace was very large, compared with its |K)])iUation, as with the exception of Sharon thei'e was no important trading point anywhere in the territory now forming tlie western portion of Nol)Ie County.

The fii^st tavern was started by Benjamin Thorla, where he now lives. He continued the business many years. Another tavern was started a little later.

The old Methodist church, in which the first court was held, in 1S51, is still standing, now (legrade<l to the use of a cow stable. Plainly, the glory of Olive has departed.

The village of Matrom was laid out by George Hell, surveyor, for Jose])h Schofield, proprietor, March 25, lS4n. This place never grew to magnificent j)roiK)rtions, and only a few dilapidated houses mark its site. Even its name has passed away; and. instead of high-sounding '-Matrom," plebeian " Socum " has taken its place. '' Socum '' is su])posed to have been derived from Sofd' V///, which title was fastened upon the place on account of the bibulous and whisky-selliiig habits of its inhabitants.

Socum once had stores and whisky shops and some other kinds of business. The first mercantile (establishment was opened by Henry Wolf soon after the town was laid out. From isr^o t<> ls."^s Sidney (iiidden kept store there. Wilson F. Mclntire was another earlv merchant. Of

Moundsville was laid off into twelve town lots by Isaac Davis. The plat was recorde<l May 21, IStU. The place nevei* attained to the rank of a village. It was best known as " Fiddler's Green,'' fnmi Rufus Hall, now in Indiana, who live<l here, had a small mill (m the creek, and vvhiled away all his spare time drawing a ''concord of sweet sounds" from his violin.

Moundsville has now barely a halfdozen houses, scattered along the road for such a disUmce that some have suggested '' Stringtown " as an appropriate name. The building of the railroad, and the consetpient transfer of business to South Olive, effectually blighted its prospects. The fii>;t store in the ])lace was started by Abraham Voung in iSfjo. and in the following year W. P. Warren became his partner. They were succeeded by AW I). Guilbert, who removed to South Olive on the com- ])letion of the railroad to that ]M)int.

The village of South Olive was surveye<l and platted August 15, ISTI, by David ]\Ii Her, surveyor, for Welton H. Ostrander, propi'ietor. The original plat contained thirteen lots. Four additions have since been ma<le by William Kirkbride, increasing the number of lots to Forty-five.

In 18^:j the grist-mill at this place was hnnuMl, involving a loss of several thousjinds. The huilding was iirst ere<ted as a tobacco packing house* by (iouclienonr A: (iuilbert. It was converter! intod mill by Jacob Purc<-ll in l^so. The stopping of the salt works, the dying out of the oil excitement, and the burnin<r of tin? mill, all have had an injurious cffcH't upon the ])rosperity of tlie villHg(\

A n<nv industry has just Ikh'Ii started- tin* iirst organized effort of th<' kind in the county - and bi<ls fair to be successful. The Simth ()livt»C-i'<»am<»ry Company was organized September !<», |SS<), with a capital of s:>,(KM). and the erection of a building at onc<» b<»gun. The stockholdtM^s are David CioucluMiour, John Stevens, J. K. Haines, Charles IIufTman and John Swayne. Similar enterpris(»s ai<^ very succ(\ssful in other parts of the country, and it is to Ix' ho|M*d that this industry will prosper here.

J. P. Arnold. AImkU mx y«*ars later village lots were laid off. William Graham, who succee<l«l Arnold in the mercantile business, built the first house, excepting that owned by Sylvester Cunningham, which ha> iM^n standing for years. The next building erectecl was the Cniversalist church. The grist-mill and sawmill of E<lgiir Morgareidgt* was built by him in Is'^.'i. At present C. L Harris carries on the mercantile business here: William Tuttle has a blacksmith shop, and Sylvester Cunnrhgham a cabinet-maker and wagonmaker's sho]>.

South Olirr Mdhodli<i Proitxtani r///</v//. - This church was organize<l by Kev. George Willis. The house of woi-ship was erecteil in 1S81 at a cost of about on a lot donate<l by William Kirkbride. The membership was small at irst, but there is now a large congregation. The pastoi-s have been Revs. Schuman, Orr. Wert and Baker.

Xi'ir Ifttruiontj liaptlat Churrh, - This conCTCinititm is an old one, the tiiNt organization having been in lS-i5. In 184:^ the church was reorganiziHl and called New^ Harmony. Elder William Davis was chairman of th<» first council and (i. W. Drake of the second. The organizing mem- IxM's were: Rev. Joseph S. Clark, ))astor; Hollis Hutchins, clerk; John Ilutchins, John Morgareidge, Robinson San ford, Joseph Davis, Joanna Ilutchins. l>ets(»y Davis, Jane Sanford, Rhod a Hutchins and John (Hmniny:ham were membei^sof Harmonv church, and Joseph Davis, Levi Davis, Betsey Davis, Dorotliy Tattle, Khoda Ann Davis and Susan Tolman, original members of New Harmony church in 1843. The present church, a frame building thirty-five by forty-five feet, was erected in 1S56, at a cost of about $1,200. The cliurch now has 112 membei's, and the Sabbath school fifty scholars. The pastors have been : Revs. Joseph L. Clark, B. B. Blake, John Skinner, G. W. Glass, Henry Lyons, L. McPherson, II. Lyons, W. A. Blake, J. S. Covert, Jesse Lieurance, J. Ilurlbert, William McPeek, J. G. AVhittaker, H. M. Prince, William McPeek and J. G. Whittaker.

f n u'et'saViHt Ch urrh . - The Vw iversalist clmrch at Dudley was built in 1878, and dedicated August 25 of that year. It is a frame building thirty by forty feet. Among the leading members who assisted in building the church were: William Cunningham, Alden Tiltcm, William Spear, Moses Blake, J. L. Rowlands, Ansel Blake, James Ogle, Jaines Warren, W. P. Warren, Samuel Ackley, David Kadcliff and David Kadcliflf, secimd. At the time of the organization there were about one hundred membei>», but the number has been considerably reduced since, owing to various causes. Rev. J. W. McMasteiN, who has i)reached for many yeai*s in the neighborhood, luus been the only regular })astor.

j settlers. Conspicuous among these were Gilman Dudley, John Allen, Israel Blake, Aurelius Clark, Joseph Clark, Daniel Tuttle, Hebron Tuttle

I townshi]), was erected in 1870. It is a neat and conunodious frame building. There was preaching in this neigh boi'hood for some yeai^s before the meeting-house was built. The

Settlkus - Uxiox Tijwxsiiip OmJAxr/.Ei) rx 1H23 - Tax-payekh ln 1888 - Old-time HrxTEHs - OxEX AS WinsKY-niiiXKEUs - C'oHN HrsKiNiJs - Family Sketi iikh - The Towxsiiip Wau He((H{I) - The Toha(((> Ixdisthv - Sakaiikville, the Old Coixty Seat - ForxDEi) ix \H2\i - Ouuiix of the Name - The Growth of the Towx - Mkk-

/'CENTER TOWNSHIP was erect- V_.^ ed 1)V the county coniniissioners May 1, 18.*)!, **so as to include and l>e coni|K)sed of the follow intj: territory, to wit :