Perry Township

Perry Township

PERRY township is situated on the eastern border of the county, and was part of Hanover township until the date of its organization - 1818. In that year the number of inhabitants had increased sufficiently to justify a separate organization. It was named m honor of Commodore Perry.

To the sagacious and calculating pioneer, this township did not present as great inducements for settlement as most other parts of the countv, and was therefore among the last to which immigrants turned their attention. The surface is generally rough and hilly, and in some parts very broken. The southern portion embraces mainly a barren, rocky range known as Bald Hills, and contains very few tracts of land suitable for farming purposes. The middle ahd northern parts are also hilly, though these are less precipitous and possess a fair share of fertility.

The only bottom land in the township is in the immediate vicinity of Elizabethtown, and a few narrow strips along the Wakatomika and its tributary, Brushy fork. The latter is the main stream in the township, and, with its tributaries, drains every part of it. This stream rises in the northwestern corner of the township, flowing generally south or a little east of south, until near the southern part, where it makes a bend, and taking a generally northeast course, leaves the township near its northeastern corner, passing into Muskingum county, where it soon joins the Wakatomika. Small tributaries enter the stream from either side during its entire course. These are mostly, or entirely, made up of the numerous springs among the hills.

The Rocky fork crosses the southwestern comer of the township, and a tributary of this stream crosses the northwestern corner; while the main Wakatomika creek passes across a small portion of the northwestern corner. The Bald Hills are seemingly devoid of water-courses.

The first settler within the limits of Perry was Samuel Hickerson. In 1810 he erected a cabin and began a clearing near what afterward became the residence of Milton Montgomery, on a small tributary of the Brushy fork. For more than ten months he remained the solitary inhabitant of this wilderness, and pushed his improvements forward with considerable success.

In the following year James Thrap and Allen Hall came into this territory, and soon after they were followed by John Frost, Stephen Cooper and others who settled on the Brushy fork.* After that settlers came in rapidly.

It is impossible to obtain from the township records the names of its first officers or their successors; for until as late as 1866, the records were kept on loose sheets and slips of paper, which were destroyed or lost after immediate use.

Two villages have an existence in this township, the most important of which is Elizabethtown. It was laid out in 1831, by Mrs. Elizabeth Lemert, from whom it received its name. The first settlers in the village were Samuel Hickerson and Daniel Helenus. It contains at present something more than one hundred inhabitants, and the business consists of two stores, kept by Anson P. Wintermute and J. S. Seward ; a wagon shop by Thomas Holman; two blacksmith shops; a saw-mill, carding-mill and planing-mill, the three last owned by Messrs. Thomas and Lugqnbeel. A post office was established there at an early day called "Perry ton," and probably Mr. Green was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Mr. Hugh Flemming, who has retained the office ever since.

Denman's cross-roads was surveyed into lots and regularly laid out, but has not prospered, and contains half a dozen families, more or less. The business is comprised in a store, kept by Mr. L. V. Hoyt, a blacksmith shop and a shoe shop.

In this township, as in perhaps a great portion of the Northwest territory, that preeminently missionary society, the Methodist, was the first to carry the consolations of religion to the destitute pioneers.

The first sermon preached within the limits of this territory was by the well known pioneer preacher, Rev. Joseph Thrap, in 1811. From that time to the present this denomination has been the leading one in the township.

The first travelling minister to preach in Perry was Rev. Michael Ellis, who formed a class at the house of James Thrap in 1813. The society has grown and prospered since that time and is now large and powerful. This society has a fine church edifice at Elizabethtown.

The above account of early Methodism in Perry to\Vnship is taken from the historical sketch of this township byC. B. Woodward; it differs somewhat from the following, from the pen of S. M. Wells, of Delaware, Ohio. He says :

"In the year 1813, Phillip Denman built a hewed-log house, the first in that part of Perry township in which he lived. The building was eighteen by twenty-eight, and, at the time, the largest dwelling in the township.

"John Livingston, a near neighbor and a land-holder, suggested that a preaching place in their neighborhood would be an inducement for respectable people to come in and settle*

"Denman consented if Livingston would find the preacher, and a few days after the latter met, as he was going to Newark, what was unmistakably a Methodist preacher, known in those days by their peculiar dress, and stopping him related that they had decided to have religious services in their neighborhood, and had a house suitable for that purpose, and asked him to make an appointment. This the minister agreed to do on his return from a visit to his parents in Virginia, whither he was then going, and told him to give out an appointment four weeks from the following Sunday.

Livingston neglected to ascertain his name, but on his return home spread far and wide the word that there would be preaching in Phillip Denman's new house on such a date by the 'third angel.' The oddity of such an announcement brought together a crowd, many through curiosity to see who would represent the 'third angel.'

"The preacher, who was John Cobler, the first minister sent by a Methodist conference west of the Ohio river, was on hand promptly, and satisfied his congregation, and on his return to conference reported Denman's as a preaching place, and it continued to be a week day appointment every two weeks untij 1828. This was the beginning of Methodism in Perry town_ ship.'*

The writer of the above extract is probably mistaken about this being the "beginning of Methodism in Perry," as Rev. Joseph Thrap moved into the adjoining township, Hanover, as early as 1805, and as he preached frequently in different parts of the county, it is reasonable to assert that he did so within the limits of Perry before 1813.

At present there is but one Methodist church in the township, this being the Episcopal Methodist at Elizabethtown. Regular services are held and an active Sunday-school maintained.

The Disciples were late in introducing their peculiar form of faith, yet they have a strong hold in Perry. The first preaching was in 1829 or 1830, by James Porter and John Secrest, in the bouse of Mrs. Elizabeth Lemert, and through the zeal and indomitable energy of this excellent woman the first church edifice was erected on her premises^ in Elizabethtown, about 1831. It was constructed of hewed logs; and in this a society was organized about 1833. John Dodson was appointed elder and sustained that relation to this church for sixteen years, until he removed to Brushy fork. Since that time Abner Lemert, Beverly Lemert, Hezekiah Shacklet, William Brown and William Phillips have been elders.

The first organization of this church consisted of the following members: Mrs. Elizabeth Lemert, Joseph Leatherman and wife, Minerva aadj Abner Lemert, Leroy Lemert and wife, William Adams, wife and two daughters, Archibald and David Mercer, Rachel Reed, Moses and Jaco!> Priest, and Daniel Lauthlin and wife.

In 1846 or 1847, a frame church edifice ms erected, much better than the hewed log, but notin , an eligible situation, nor in such a manner as to be j conducive to health or comfort. It, however, rswered the purpose until 1869, when a very cred::* able building was erected in a suitable place. It was dedicated the third Sabbath in June of that yea:, the sermon being delivered by J. H. Jones. The church is strong and active at present, the membership being about eighty. It also maintains 1 fine Sabbath-school.

The Baptist church was constituted in 1847 b? that zealous and efficient missionary preacher, Job Fry, who was the first to introduce the doctrines of this church into this territory. He was assisted by John Crabtree and Joseph Sperry, and the tint organization consisted of seven persons - three males and four females.

The first deacon was James Holmes, and the first clerk, Ezra Sperry. In 1864, John Bilbyand William Clagett were installed deacons, and James Holmes clerk. John Fry remained pastor ur.tf 1853, and was followed by Stephen C. Smith. John Pritchard, Johnson VanHom, William Br.- ler, and John Pritchard, the present pastor. Therr church building at Pleasant Hill is a respectab* one, and the society is in a flourishing condition the present membership being about fifty.

The Protestant Methodists early formed a soc: ety in Perry, and for many years prospered, be: the building in which they worshipped at Elizabethtown being weakly built, soon fell into ruin* and they have not been able to erect another, consequently the society is not at present in exk ence. *

Education received early attention, though the sparseness of the population prevented the estah lishment of schools as early as was desirable.

In 1822 a school-house was built on the firm now owned by Daniel Wagstaff. It was a rode log structure, and in it Miss Elmira Lewis gathered a few scholars, and began a "subscription" school She was quite popular, and the pioneers were much pleased with the success of their first effort. Unable to secure the services of Miss Lewis for a second term, a Miss Nelson was installed as teacher. In 1827 a second school was started in a house similar to the first, built on the Furnace land. Isaac Schneider and Daniel Beardley were the teachers at that time. Subscription schools were continued until the present system took their place.

Perhaps the most noteworthy person in the pioneer history of Perry was Samuel Montgomery, a local Methodist preacher. He came early into the township from Virginia, and during his long stay no man was more respected or influential than he. A blameless life, an earnest zeal for religion and the preservation of public morals, commended him more to the good opinion of the people than any display of oratory. His preaching was always listened to by many and appieciative hearers. On funeral occasions "Uncle Sammy'* generally officiated, and at marriages he was sel. dom absent.

John Livingston was among the first pioneers, and was a noted hunter. The greater part of his time was spent in the pursuit of wild game. His success exceeded that of all others in the community; and many tales are yet told of his wonderful exploits. Once, while returning from a hunting excursion, fatigued by excessive exertion, and walking slowly through the woods, a panther that had probably been crouching upon the limb of a tree waiting for a victim, suddenly sprang upon his back, tearing off two hunting shirts, and raking his back with its terrible claws, on its way to the ground. The hunter turned instantly and fired without aim, but the attack had been so sudden and unexpected that he was greatly excited and missed. He now realized that he stood face to face with one of the most formidable and ferocious beasts of the forests, with an empty gun in his hand and no other weapon of defence. The panther was crouching for a spring, and remembering that wild beasts are sometimes held at bay when their eyes are caught by that of a human being, Livingston looked steadily at the beast and began reloading his gun. Keeping his eye fixed upon that of the panther, he emptied the contents of his powder-horn into the gun, without thinking of what he was doing, and dropped in a bullet, without the usual patching and ramming. It was quickly done, and placing the muzzle within a foot of the panther's head, he fired. The result was a bursted gun, a lacerated hand and a panther's head blown to atoms. He now felt the effects of the scratches on his back, the loss of blood and the relaxation from terrible excitement, and it was with difficulty that he dragged himself to a neighboring cabin, where he was cared for. It was a long time before he recovered from the effects of this encounter. Mr. Livingston had many encounters with wild beasts of this vicinity, during his long life as a hunter, but this was probably the most terrible, and the one in which he came the nearest to losing his life.

The Denmans, as before stated, were among the earliest pioneers, and were also largely engaged in hunting. Several descendants are yet living in the vicinity of Denman's cross roads. A bear story in connection with this family is worth preserving.

One morning the wife of Hathaway Denman, while attending to her household duties, Mr. Denman being absent at work in the woods, was startled by the cries of her two-year old son, who had been playing near the cabin under the watchful care of the large house dog. Simultaneously with the screaming of the child came the fierce barking of the dog; it was that peculiar savage bark that dogs always give when close upon the enemy. Mrs. Denman rushed out of the cabin, and was horrified to find her little boy running toward her, while a black bear, which had been closely pursued by the dog, was just mounting upon the "bench" of the chimney, four or five feet from the ground. Here the bear was held at bay by the dog, while Mrs. Denman, seizing the child, ran toward the spot where her husband was at work. The faithful dog kept bruin perched upon the chimney until Mr. Denman came and shot him.

The pioneers of this township were mostly from Virginia, though many came from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They are industrious, temperate and economical. They are moral, religious, and take a deep interest in educational matters.

Chapter Lxxii

PRIOR to the organization of this township, which occurred in 1813, it was a part of Granville township, and at the date of its organization embraced also Jersey township.

So far as recorded,' there are but four mounds in this township. One is on what is known as the "Gailor farm," now owned by Thomas Jones, near the Kirkersfalle road, and south of the Gaffeld meeting-house; another on the hill upon which stands the residence of J. Davis, one-half mile east of Alexandria, and north of the road leading to Newark; and a third further west, upon the farm of John Reed known as the "Thrall farm," but the largest is probably the one on the land of E. R. Cornell, about twenty rods south of the Delaware road. It is said to have been eighteen feet in height within the memory of the older citizens, but from various causes it is now considerably lower. About 1830 Dr. Fassett, Archibald Cornell and Israel Peck excavated to its center, on a level with the original earth, and found human bones of more than one skeleton and some polished stones.

In addition to these works of the Mound Builders, there are two inclosures ; one the shape of an egg, inclosing about six acres on the farm of Abner Lyman, known as the Phillips or Follett farm. The Delaware road passes through it, leafving the larger part on the south side, but from years of cultivation it is hardly discernible.

The township lies wholly within the United States military lands, and is well watered by Rac coon fork of Licking river and its tributaries. Raccoon passes through in a southeasterly direction, tie following streams emptying into it from the south Cornell run, the two Pettee runs, and Mootz mn Those coming in from the north ate the Drake or Carpenter, and Lobdell runs.'

The names of the tributaries of the Raccoon j were derived from the early settlers along their 1 banks, with one exception, Mootz run, which i> supposed to have taken its name from the nameo: "J. Mootz," cut at an early day on a beech tree which stood near the Gilbert mills, and east of the stream. The name was found there by the earliest settlers in that locality, and is supposed to ha re been cut by some one belonging to a surveying i party, as the name had the appearance of being cut with irons used by surveyors to mark the tree* along the lines run.

The soil of the township is among the best for farming purposes. The wide, rich bottom lan6 along the Raccoon were originally covered wkfe ' very large trees of every variety of hard wood known to this climate. These have long since <fo appeared, and in their place are well cultivate: farms. The second bottom land is excellent for wheat, and the upland has, perhaps, no superior for grasses.

.me with his father to Newark. They were among e first families to settle in that place. He married liss Catharine Ward, whose father lived on the rm now known as a dairy farm, in Harrison townlip.

They were married in 1807, and the same year ected their cabin on the farm afterward owned f Noah Morrow, in the southern part of the >wnship. He made the first clearing in the spring : 1 808, being assisted in his log-rolling by Deacon utlerof Harrison township. His son, Samuel, )m in December of the same year, was the first hite child bom in the township; and a daughter, atharine, born in September 18 11, was probably le first female born in the township.

After remaining a short time on his farm Herron imoved to Newark, but soon returned to his farm, here he remained until his death, which occurred 1 January, 1815.

The next family to become identified with the istory of the township was Cornell. In the winkr of 1807-8, Gideon, Sylvanus and Archibald Cornell, with their sisters, moved temporarily into le township to work at clearing land for a Mr. /aters, who then owned the lands afterward occuied as farms by J. L. Tyler, N. W. Clafflin, Swain /illiams and David Charles; the Cornells to ave a certain amount of land for clearing certain number of acres - thought to be one undred for clearing fifty. This Mr. Waters as a pioneer, but being unmarried, in poor ealth, unable to do manual labor, dying at an arly day, and never having made this township is permanent home, his name, in all probability, ould never have found its way into this history, ut for this contract with the Cornells. The clearig made by the Cornells was known as the Waters learing. Mr. Waters died in the village of Granille November 5, 1809. Gideon Cornell died in )ctober, 1857, aged seventy-three; Sylvanus died t October, 1865, aged seventy-six; and Archild died in August, 1856, aged sixty-three.

The next settler was Joshua Lobdell, from Mc- )onnellstown, Pennsylvania. He may be said to ave been the second settler who came for a permanent settlement. He arrived in the spring of 808, his father, David Lobdell, accompanying nd making his home with him. He settled on the farm afterward known as the Atwood or Fitch farm, subsequently the residence of William Green. The settlement of Mr. Lobdell upon this particular piece of land was accidental. It is stated that "a weary, footsore traveler, who had been to the west, came along, stopping at their residence in Pennsylvania, and offered to sell his farm west of the Ohio for a horse, saddle and bridle." The family had been thinking of moving west, and this offer was accepted by Mrs. Lobdell, who, it appears, did the trading, and thus the farm came into their possession. It would appear from the above statement that this "weary, foot-sore traveler " had been in this township, probably, prior to its first settlement.

Joshua Lobdell set out the first orchard in the township in 1809; the trees being brought from Muskingum county. He and his father were among the number that organized the Baptist church on the Welsh hills in September, 1808. Joshua was the first elder of the church. The death of David Lobdell, which occurred in 1809, when he was seventy, was the first in the township. He was buried on the Drake farm, nearly one mile west of Alexandria, on the bluff overlooking Raccoon, between the Delaware and Columbus roads. Joshua was the first carpenter in the township, and did not long survive his father, dying in 1812, aged forty-six. His only son, Samuel, lost his life in the war of 1812.

In the spring of 1809 came Thomas Owens, a widower, from the Welsh hills, with a family of nearly grown-up children. He lived on the Waters farm, but only remained a short time ; having married a daughter of Thomas Phillips, who lived on the Welsh hills, to which place Mr. Owens moved his family in the winter or early spring o 1811.

Samuel Carpenter, sr., from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, also settled with his family in this township in the spring of 1809. He came in 1805 to Rush creek, Fairfield county, where he remained until he settled here.

The first church was organized and the first sermod preached in the cabin of Mr. Carpenter, by Mr. Bacon, a minister traveling through the country on foot, carrying his saddle-bags on his arm, in 1810 or 1 81 1. He remained over night with the

Carpenters, and preached this sermon to a small gathering of settlers. Rev. J. B. Finley, however, says, in his history of Methodism, that he preached .the first sermon in that township, at the cabin of S. Carpenter, sr., late in 1810 or early in the following year. If he did so, he failed to make the same impression on the younger members of his congregation as was made by Mr. Bacon.

Mr. Carpenter erected the first brick house in the township, in 1821; and died in March, 1834, aged eighty-one. His son, Rev. Samuel Carpenter, settled on the farm adjoining his father's, and erected a brick residence in 1827, the oldest brick building now standing in the township. He was married to Mercy Cornell, December 21, 1809, by Rev. T. Harris, of Granville; and had they been married in the township, would have been the first; but, though both had been living in the township, and shortly after the marriage made this their home, they were married at the house of the bride's mother in Granville ; hence the marriage of Gideon Cornell to Miss Julia Lobdell, July 17, 1810, was the first marriage ceremony petformed in the township. Rev. S. Carpenter died in August, 1851, aged seventy-eight years.

The settlers in 1810 were William Pettee, his son True, and a carpenter by the name of Noble Landon. They came together from Vermont, and settled on the farm afterward owned by George Shaw. Upon the organization of the township in 1813, Landon was elected its first justice of the peace. Pettee was a cooper, and the first in the township, he was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In the spring of 1811 Samuel Clark, one of the Granville company, settled on the Worthington road, near the eastern line of the township, where he worked at his trade, being the first blacksmith, and a good mechanic. He remained here until his death, in 1824. During this year David Drake came. He was a brother-in-law of Joshua Lobdell, and from the same neighborhood in Pennsylvania. He was the first wagon-maker in the township, and died in 1867, aged ninety-four years. A Mr. Murdock also erected a cabin on what is known as the Barnes' farm, but he was not long a resident of the township.

southeast corner of the township, on the Morehouse King farm. He employed L. Butler, of Harrison township, to build his cabin, which he did for the sum of thirty dollars. This family also, moved away in a short time. The Witherell family were the last to arrive during this year (1811). They came from Connecticut and settled on the farm afterward owned by L. B. Stark. There were three boys, all young men, Luther, Comfort and Daniel, the mother and three other children. They came lrom their old home in a wagon entirely of their own make, even to the tire, which was of wood. When the tire wore off they were compelled to stop and re-tire. In this wagon they carried all their household goods, and other earthly possessions, besides the younger members of the family when tired of walking; and this wagon was drawn by hand from Connecticut to the wilds of Ohio. Probably the wagon tire was less trouble than the family tire, and was not so often retired. They soon returned to Connect icut, but came back again to St. Albans, where the mother died, and was the second person buried in the Gaffield burying ground - Lucy A. McCreary, ! who died June 8, 1821, being the first interment

The settlers in this township in 1812 were Peter Stephens and his son Justice, with their families; Isaiah Beaumont, sr., and family, and Elijah Fox and brother. The three first arrived in January, from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania Stephens and son had visited the township the previous summer and put in crops. They settled on the farm since owned by Joseph Bowman, but moved in a few years to Monroe township, where some of the family yet live. Beaumont settled on the farm that yet bears his name, and remained there until his death, in 1837, at the age of eightyone. He was a great hunter, and looked upon as the Nimrod of the township. The Foxes were bachelors and settled upon land since owned by Thomas Jones, on the Jersey road. They were frontiersmen, and only remained about two years, when they sold out to John I^ockwTood.

The settlers of 1813 were Thomas Spellman and Amos Carpenter, with their families, from Granviik. who settled on the Worthington road; and Elijah Adams, Asa Plummer, and William Mills, on the Delaware road. Mr. Spellman settled on the hm ice owned by S. Smith, and died in his seventycth year ; Mr. Carpenter settled on the farm since med by L. B. Stark, and died in his seventy-first ar; Mr. Adams settled on the Cornell farm; Mr. u miner made the first improvement on Blood ill, and opened the first house of entertainment 1813 or 1814, but sold out, shortly, to Willliam ills, who still continued to keep the house of itertainment until Frederick Blood purchased e farm, and opened the first hotel in 1816 or *17-

The first election was held in the fall of this ;ar (1813) at the house of S. Carpenter, sr,; the rst trustees elected were Isaiah Beaumont, Peter Stephens and David Drake; the first clerk was oble Landon, who named the township after his ative place, St Albans, Franklin county, Verlont. This privilege was accorded him in considration of furnishing four gallons of whiskey to le seventeen electors present During the year 1814. Helon Rose, Chauncey helps, William Clemons, John Lockwood, Joel hilbrook, Sewel Wilson, Hiel Williams, and San- >rd Converse settled in the township; and in 815 came Jonathan Atwood, Knowles Linnel, William Hastings, Isaac Longwell, Aaron Park, osiah Eastman, David Wright, J. R. Curtis, Stehen Emerson, John McCreary, Thomas M unsell, )aniel Vail, Japhet Sherman, and Abram Mayfield, 'he first military company was organized this year ith the following officers: Captain, Sanford Conerse; Lieutenant, Archibald Cornell; Ensign, unos Carpenter.

In 1816, the arriving settlers were Alpheus laker, William Gailor, Harry Clemons, William lunsell, Peter Hird, Thomas Munsell, jr., Daniel Jailor, Jonathan Derby, Benjamin Linnel, and ames Scott. Settlers increased rapidly after this ear, and space cannot be allowed for following hem further.

Miss Jerusha Baker taught the first school in he township, in the summer of 1812, in an old abin belonging to the Cornells. Levi Phelps -as the first male teacher, and taught his first chool in the winter of 1813-14, in a cabin belongag to Benjamin Carpenter which had been some ?hat remodelled for this purpose. The first schooltouse erected in the township was of log, built in

November, 1816, and stood north of where the Kirkersville road intersects the Worthington, on land then owned by Thomas Spellman. It was also used for elections and township meetings. The first school in it was in the winter of 1816-17, and was kept by Martin Mazervy. The first Sabbath-school was organized in this building, probably, in 1818, in which the people of the community united, without regard to denominational views, and Deacon Oren Barnes was the first superintendent.

The first building for church purposes was the old brick school-house on the Worthington road, a mile south of Alexandria. It was erected in 1824, and was sufficiently large for church purposes. It was a log building with a large fire-place in each end, and was for years a place of meeting whether for political or religious purposes. After Alexandria was laid out, it was no longer used as it formerly had been ; the old building was torn down, and one erected expressly for school purposes. In it lived the first physician in the township, his family occupying half the building, a temporary partition having been been erected. He was both physician and teacher, his name being Kirkham, said to have been the brother of the author of Kirkham's grammar. He remained but a short tjme.

Dr. Henry V. Owen, was the first permanent physician. He came in 1834, intending to remain only over night, but, at the urgent solicitation of the citizens, made this his permanent home. He was from Cayuga county, New York, graduated in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and died in March, 1864.

The first distillery was that of Helon Rose, situatuated south of the present residence of Lyman Carter. It was started about 1818, but Mr. Carter did not run it long before he sold out to Dr. Enos Nichols.

The first cabinet shop was built by B. F. Hillier, in 1822, near where stands the residence of William Beaumont. It was almost exclusively of buckeye logs, roofed with boards, and the joints covered with slabs.

The first interment in the old graveyard adjoining the new cemetery was June 20, 1838. The village of Alexandria having been laid ont, the proprietor, Alexander Devilblis, in the spring of 1838, gave the lot for burial purposes. David Patterson, originally from Pennsylvania, coming to the township from Guernsey county in the spring of 1818, died in April, 1830, and was buried on the Biggs' lot, just west of Alexandria. Mrs. Patterson died in June, 1838, and as the ground was secured and accepted for burial purposes, she requested, before her death, that they remove her husband's remains and bury both in the then new cemetery; and, on the twentieth of June, 1838, they were interred, side by side, in the same grave. The child of Asahel Craw had been buried before this, as they supposed on the ground given for burial purposes, but when run out it was beyond the boundary, and, upon the death of another child soon after, it was removed, and both buried in one grave.

Probably the warmest and most exciting election ever held in the township was the one for a justice in the year 1816, when S. Carpenter, sr., was elected. The strife seems to have been between the Bray section and the Worthington road, and the contest was not only warm but bitter and determined, resulting in three elections and as many contests ; and it is safe to say the defeated party is still dissatisfied.

The person who has lived longest on the same farm or in the same location is Walter B. Mc- Creary, having made his home where he now lives, in 1816.

In the spring of 1830, Alexander Devilblis laid out the village of Alexandria, and the same year a frame dwelling was put up by Riley Parker on the lot now occupied by L. S. Chadwick for a grocery. The following year Stiles Parker built the first building erected expressly for a store, on the lot upon which stands the store-house of D. S. Owen, the lot being a present from Devilblis to Parker, if he would erect such a building.

The village contained in 1870, three hundred and three inhabitants, and the township one thousand one hundred and ten. In 1800 the township had one thousand one hundred and forty-eight in habitants.

There are five houses of worship in the township, three located in Alexandria - the Methodist Episcopal, the Congregationalist and the Baptist On the road from Granville to Columbus, and two miles southeast of Alexandria, is located the house belonging to the Methodist Episcopal church, known as the Gaffield meeting-house, and three miles south of Alexandria, and on the township line road, is located the Wesleyan Methodist chapel. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized first, probably in 1811 or 1812; the Congrega tionalist next in order, in 1820 or 1821; the Baptist in 1826, and the Wesleyan Methodist church ir. 1844.

The Methodists erected the first building exclusively for church purposes in 1830, which has been spoken of as the Gaffield meeting-house. They erected the old church in Alexandria in 1838, and the present building in 1863-4.

The Baptists built the first church in Alexandria, probably in 1834. It was moved on the land now owned by David Buxton when the present edifice was erected, and is now used for a bam. The present house was built in 1839.

The pastor is Rev. A. Y. Yale, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. In addition to his pastoral labors he is now conducting a very neat periodical called the Church and Home. The first number made its appearance in October, iS$o, It is published by A. W. Yale, pastor of the Baptist church in the village, and is a very neat and excellently prepared serial. It will be monthly in its issues and will be a valuable volume, when bound, for the library shelves. The editor, Rei. Yale, has had considerable experience as an editor and publisher, and is a practical printer. He at tended college about three years preparing himself for his labors as a religious teacher. Among his newspapers have been the Wichita (Kansas) Triune, of which he was the originator. He started this paper when Wichita was a town of only 0^ ousand persons; now it is a city, and the paper s a large circulation. Rev. Yale also conducted e McPherson Messenger and other similar papers, le Church and Home is printed at the Times fice in Granville, and makes its appearance about e fifteenth of each month.

St. Albans Congregational Church. - Monday, jgust 23, 1880, at half past ten a. m., an ecclesias- :al council convened at the Christian Union lurch, three miles north of Alexandria, to conler the expediency of organizing a Congregationchurch at that place.

The council was composed of Rev. Samuel Wolitt, D. D., of Cleveland, Rev. E. I. Jones and braham Flory, of Plymouth Congregational lurch of Newark, Rev. D. S. Jones and Newton irker, of the Congregational church of Alexania, and Rev. John McKean and Deacon James )llett, of the Congregational church of Hartford. Doctor Wolcutt read the letter missive calling the -uncil, after which he was chosen moderator and ev. John McKean, scribe.

Reasons for the proposed organization were ven by D. C. Brooks and Rev. R. W. Graham, view of which the council voted unanimously in vor of the organization.

Sermon by Rev. E. I. Jones, of Newark. Reading the confession of faith, and covenant r the assent of the church, and prayer of conseation, by the moderator.

The new organization contains fifty-three manors, of which forty-two were members of the hristian Union church, ten of the Free Will Bap- >t church, and one of the Methodist Episcopal mrch.

Rev. R. W. Graham, who has been their pastor for years, and who is now a member of the new organization, will doubtless be chosen their pastor.

The Wesleyan Methodist Connection organized a class at the brick school-house in 1844, and in the winter of 1847-8 organized at the present location and built a house of worship on the township line road, but in Harrison township, in the year 1848. They built their present house on the opposite side of the road, or in St. Albans in 1866.

In 1819 a Mr. Smith, agent for some persons in Granville, supposed to be Sawyer, Mower & Co., came into the township and erected a small plank house near the Clemons (now Spelman's) mill, and opened a small store, keeping a few things, and was engaged in boring for salt during the fall and winter of 1819, and winter and spring of 1820.

A well was sunk in the bed of Mootz run, near Spelman's mill, to the depth of five hundred and fifty feet, and another near Gilbert's mills about four hundred and fifty feet deep, when from some cause the efforts for salt were discontinued.

In boring the well near Mr. Palmerton's they passed through a vein of coal from ten to fifteen feet in thickness, between the third and fourth hundred feet in depth. Both wells afford a constant supply of water, but at what depth they became artesian wells has not been ascertained.

In 1825 Knowles %Linnell, esq., of Granville, then a resident of St. Albans, built a clock factory on his farm and near the brick school-house. The building now stands east of Lyman Carter's residence, and is used by him for a hay and sheep bam. One Charles Lewis was to do the work when the factory was built, but he proving a failure was soon dismissed, and in the spring of 1826 William Munsell, esq., went for Charles French, a clock maker then residing in Delaware county, and secured his services for Linnell. He removed the same spring and worked in the factory during the spring and summer. In the fall William H. Brace, a brother-in-law of French, came from the east and worked the remainder of that year and also during the year 1827. In the spring of 1828 French and Brace moved to Granville to follow their trade. They were sons-in-law of Elder Wildman, who organized the Baptist church of St. Albans in 1826.

There were made in the factory about eleven William Munsell, esq., was salesman or clod hundred clocks, which were sold in this and the peddler, as they were usually called, for the manuadjoining counties. facturers.