Pickaway Township (part 49 of 49)

In the early settlement of the township, deer, wild turkeys and small game were very numerous, the killing of a deer being -quite an ordinary occurrence. Wolves were plentv and very annoying, killing the sheep of the settler and making a hideous noise with their constant howling. The township was not much inhabited by bears, although they frequently came in and several w ere killed bv the hunters of Salt Creek. The last bear killed in Pickaway County was shot in Salt Creek township in 1840 by Jonathan Dreisbach and John Reichelderfer, who shot the animal simultaneously.

In the apportionment of the justices of the peace by the Board of County Commissioners on April 6, 1810, Salt Creek had two, viz.: Jacob Lutz and William Drury. Bv act of the Legislature, passed March 7, 1843. that part of Adelphi in Salt Creek township was attached to Ross County. The population of the township in 1900 was 1.680. the present township officials are as follows: 1 rustees - \\ ilhani

Allen, A. A. Reichelderfer and George C. Lathouse: clerk. Perry Aldendetfer ; treasurer. Wayne Reichelderfer; assessor, Daniel L. Heffner; justices of the peace - Earnest Goldfredrick and Isaac W. Rossiter; constables - Henry Imler and Charles Hunt.

While the land of the township was not put on sale by the government until i8oi. there were quite a few squatters that located here previously, who had been attracted by the rich lands, along Salt Creek. Some of these squatters remained and purchased land, while others moved to other sections. Among those who were here before 1801 and who therefore may be termed squatters were : Alexander Berry,

The first man to enter land in Salt Creek township was John Shoemaker, who came from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1801. At the sale of government land, in May of that year, he made an entry of land, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. The first patent was issued to him and bears date of April 20, 1802, being signed by Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States and James Madison, Secretary of State. He returned to Ohio in 1806 with his family.

William Stumpf came here from Berk's County, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1801 and section 24. He then returned home and two years later settled on his property. He was largely engaged in the business of buying and selling cattle, driving the cattle across the mountains to Eastern markets.

In 1802 Jacob and John Lutz came here from Pennsylvania, arriving in the township on the 15th day of September. The eldest son of Samuel Lutz, Samuel, was then a youth of 13 years. On October 15, 1811, Samuel Lutz married Elizabeth Eetherof and went to farming on a 185-acre tract given him by his father. He was a pioneer surveyor of the county and it is a matter of record that in 1810 he surveyed the first public road ordered by the commissioners of Pickaway County. Eor a period of over 70 years he continued in service as a surveyor, also following agricultural pursuits. He served in the militia in the War of 1812, was in the State Legislature for four sessions and for 18 years filled the office of justice of the peace. He lived to the age of 102 years.

His 100th anniversary was celebrated by a' large company of his friends gathering at his home to do him honor. One of his sons was the well-known John A. Lutz.

Abraham Monnett, George Dunkel and Jacob Shoemaker came here in 1803. The last named subsequently moved to Circleville and was associate judge of Pickaway County for a number of years. The arrivals in 1805 included Conrad Brancher, Christopher Holderman and John Judy. In 1806 John Reichelderfer and family and his son John and family came, to this township from Berks County, Pennsylvania. John Rarmon. Henry Wissler (Whisler. as the name is now spelled). Abraham Dreisbach and Henry Drum also settled m Salt Creek in 1806. Abraham Heffner and Nicholas Whitesel came here in 1807; George Dreisbach and his brothers in 1S11 ; also their brother-in-law, Peter Spyker, in the same year. Jacob Sayler, son of Jacob Sayler, Sr., previously mentioned, came here some time during the War of 1812; Godfrey Creamer, who had been a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, about 1820; Andrew Delong, in 1 S3 r ; and George Riegel, in 1832. Other early settlers of the township w ere : Samuel Lybrand, John Burns, Joseph Schoots, Benjamin Kepner. Henry Mathias. Jacob Spangler, Samuel Noble and David and Jacob Foust.

As early as 1805 a Baptist Church was organized in the southwestern part of the township. It was called the Salt Creek Baptist Church until 1812, when the Lemuel Church uniting with it. the name was changed to Union Baptist Church. The first meetings were held at the dwellings of the members until a meeting-house was erected in section 28, which was constructed of hickory logs. In 1841 or 1842 a church building was erected at Prairie View (now Whisler) at a cost of about $2,000. Rev. Benjamin Case, who was the first pastor of the society, is supposed to have organized it. This church has been out of existence for 30 years or more.

Another early church of the township was the German Reformed Church, organized at Tarlton about 1S07 by Rev. George Wise, of Lancaster. About the same time a German Lutheran society was formed, and the societies shortly afterwards united in the erection of a log-meeting-house. About 1S30 they put up a log-and-irame building, which continued to be used by the two societies for some years. The German Reformed society erected a brick church of their own prior to 1 86 1 , in which year the Lutherans built a frame church edifice. The German Reformed society continued to prosper until sundry innovations upon established usage were introduced into the church bv Rev. Samuel Jacobs, who finally joined the Cumberland Presbyterians, taking most of his church with him. The litigation over the ownership of the church property that followed resulted in favor of the new organization, and the remnant of the original society built a frame house in the southeastern part of Tarlton. About 30 years ago the German Reformed society fell into difficulties, their church was sold at sheriff's sale and the society disbanded.

St. Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Tarlton was organized November S, 1S61. A Lutheran society had existed at Tarlton, however, from a very early date, the meetings having been held as stated in the preceding paragraph, in the same building with the German Reformed society until the organization of St. Jacob's Church and the erection of the present church building, which is a frame structure valued at Si. 200. The following have

G. W. Hudson, James F. Beattes, W. L. Pf unton and J. M. Wenrich, of Stoutsville, the present pastor, who took charge in 1891. The present membership of the society is 125. Orestes Movvery is superintendent of the Sundayschool, which has a membership of 50.

Tarlton Presbyterian Church. - The Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Tarlton was finally changed to a Presbyterian Church, of which Rev. \Y . \V. Carhart, of Whisler, is nowpastor. 1 he church property is valued at $1." 500; while the building, as lias been indicated

| in a preceding paragraph, is an old one, the j property has been improved by the building of cement walks and presents a very creditable appearance. The present membership of the church is 1 1 5. Harvey Mowery is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has a membership of 100.

Whisler Presbyterian Church. - In February, 1859, a Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Prairie View (Whisler) was organized by Rev. Archibald Brice at the Oak Grove M. E. Church, the society comprising some 10 or 11 members -at its formation. Until the completion of their house of worship, a frame structure, erected in the fall of i860, which is still doing service, the society met in a frame schoolhouse. Some time ago, the society became a Presbyterian Church, and is now known as the Whisler Presbyterian Church. The church building is valued at $1,000. The society has also a good parsonage at Whisler, built about 10 years ago at a cost of $1,800. The church has a membership of about 100. Rev. W. W. Carhart is pastor. The flourishing Sunday- - school connected with this church has a membership of about 125; the superintendent is Mrs. Nellie Quillen.

Jerusalem Church, or the Stumpf Church as it is frequently styled, was organized by Revs. George Wise and Jacob Leist about the year 1820 as a German Reformed society. Rev. Jacob Leist was one of the earliest of the pioneer preachers of this region. He came to Salt Creek township in its early settlement, began preaching soon after his arrival and continued in the ministry for a great many years. He proved a valuable accession to the settlement and during the long period of his ministry w as highly esteemed for his moral worth. He married Elizabeth Shoemaker, daughter of Judge Jacob Shoemaker and fixed his residence where Leistville now stands, there residing until his death. The church services were held in a schoolhouse. located in the northeast corner of section 26. until 1831. when a brick house of worship was built. The present, neat, brick church was erected in 1877 at a cost of $3,000. Rev. Henry King and Rev. Jacob Leist - the | former a Reformed minister and the latter a

In 1819 or 1820 members of the German Reformed and Lutheran denominations residing in the we'stern part of the township built a log meeting-house, in which services were held for a number of years, although no organization was ever effected. A United Brethren society was subsequently formed there, and occupied the house for some years, when it disbanded. The meeting-house finally burned down.

The Dresbach U. B. Church was organized about 1S20 at the house of George Dreisbach; among the first members were George Dreisbach and wife, Henry Dreisbach and wife, John Dreisbach and Elizabeth Whitesel. The appointment has been for many years on the Pickaway Circuit, which now embraces four appointments : Pontius, Morris, Dresbach and Fairview. The pastor of the circuit is Rev. O. M. Martin, who succeeded Rev. D. W. Lambert in September, 1906. In 1829 the present brick church on the north line of the township was built. Until six years ago, when the parsonage at Circleville was bought, the pastor of the Pickaway Circuit resided at Tarlton. The church has a present membership of 42. In 1841 a general conference of the United Brethren churches of the United States was held at the Dresbach Church.

The Tarlton LT. B. Church was organized about 1840 by Revs, Lewis, Ambrose and Joshua Montgomery and consisted of eight members. The building was erected two or three years later and stands just north of the county line. Before the erection of the church, the society held its meetings at the house of Jacob Larick. The church was formerly quite prosperous.

The Tarlton M. E. Church was organized sometime before 1825. The first meetings of the Methodists in this township were held at a very early date at the house of Abraham Monnett. The Tarlton church was formerly in the Adelphi Circuit. Chill icothe District, which embraced 20 appointments in Pickaway, Vinton, Ross, Fairfield and Hocking counties. In 1841 Tarlton Circuit was formed from Adelphi with

| seven appointments, of which the Tarlton ; church and Haller's Chapel were the only ones ; in Pickaway County. In 1870 South Perry i Circuit was detached from Tarlton, leaving the latter with four appointments: Tarlton. in

> schoolhouse until 1840, when a church edifice i was erected. The following were the pastors of the Adelphi Circuit up to the time the Tarlton Circuit was formed : Revs. E. H. Field,

George C. Crum, William Westlake, Philip Nation, John Stuart, John W. White, John \ Stuart, Wesley Roe, Benjamin Ellis, David | Lewis, Benjamin Ellis, J. B. Austin, Charles I C. Lybrand, Richard Daughty, James Parsons ; and Richard. Daughty. The first preacher, af- ! ter the formation of the Tarlton Circuit, was j Rev. Daniel Poe, who was followed by Revs.

| Anderson, Kirkman, G. G. West, L. Whitehead, John T. Miller, I saac F. King, Beniamin Ellis. John F. Miller, Andrew' Carroll, Benjamin Ellis, Thomas R. Taylor, W. F. Filler. B. Wolfe, Ross, Sibley, Weir, Ebright, Hall. Hanawalt, Thomas Hall, Pickets, McClintock. j T. S. Thurston. Isaac Mackey and Berry, w ho was pastor in 1879. Rev. R. A. Blair of Adelphi. is the present incumbent. The church has a memlrership of about 100. The church building is valued at ?3 ,000 and the parsonage, a seven-room structure, is valued at Si. 500. The Sunday-school, of which William Shoemaker is superintendent, has a membership of about 80.

1 he W hisler M. E. Church, formerlv known as the Oak Grove M. E. Church, was organized in 1858 by a union of the W'arren schoolhouse class and that at Hallers Chapel.

I A church building- was put up that summer and | dedicated in the fall of the year by Rev. Mr. i Felton. About two years ago the societv built a new frame church at Whisler at a cost of $2.- 1 000 and the. name was changed to Whisler M.

is pastor. The church has a membership of about 50 members. George Fox is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has a membership of about 50.

The English Evangelical Lutheran Church at Tarlton was formed by Rev. Nathan B. Little in 1835 with about 30 members. The -church building of the Old School Presbyterians was occupied as the place of worship until 1841, when the society erected the church building at Tarlton they have since used. For the last seven or eight years services have not been held regularly. A minister has been engaged who will serve both this church and the English Evangelical Church at Circleville. The church is not in a flourishing financial condition. The membership is only 20, whereas in 1879 4 was about 60; nearly" all' the former members have died or moved away. The Sunday-school, of which Miss Ida Mowrey is superintendent and James Porter of Leistville, assistant superintendent, has a membership of 30.

In January, 1875, a church of the Evangelical Association was formed at Pleasant \ iew, two miles north of Whisler, composed of about 20 members'. The church building was erected the following summer and was dedicated September 5, 1875, by Rev. R. Dubs. Rev. S. E. Rife was the first pastor. Other early pastors of this church were Revs. Hankey. Wingard, Ellenberger, Munn, Rinehold and Evans. This organization has been split into two societies, both of which worship in the same church building. Rev'. Davis, who lives near the church, is pastor of one, and Rev. Stumpf, who lives at Stoutsville, is pastor of the other.

The oldest cemetery in the township is the one known as the Stumpf burying-ground. in which the first person buried was Jane Defenbaugh, who died in October, 1804. The ground for her burial was donated bv George Dunkel, I I he cemetery at the Dresbach U. B. Church is | also one of the oldest in the township ; many of the Dreisbach family have been buried here. Mound Hill Cemetery, located near Whisler, is still used for interments and is in good condition. The township cemetery is located near the center of the township and is controlled by the township trustees. There are also a number of other burial grounds scattered throughout the township.

What was probably the first schoolhouse in the township was built on the southwest quarter of section 24, about 1803 or 1804. About the same time a rude log structure was built in Tarlton near the site of the present Methodist Episcopal Church. A man named Mitchell kept the first term of school in this house. The first school iii the southwestern part of the township was kept in a log schoolhouse on the farm of Joseph Schoots. in section 33. One of the early teachers was Timothy Beach. The Board of Education of Salt Creek township, elected in November, 1904, is constituted as follows: Daniel D. Mowrey, Rufus Reichelderfer and Jacob Friece - four years; Allen Drum and George B. Armstrong - two vears. There are nine school buildings in the township. The school at Whisler has two rooms, which are taught by Oliver Floyd and Anna Pontius. This is a special district ; A. W. Imler is clerk of the board.

The trustees of the Tarlton Special School District are as follows : L. B. Thomas, Henry Mowrey, Clay F. Macklin and M. D. Kreider, there being one vacancy. The Tarlton school building was erected in 1899, at a cost of $4,- 000. It includes a high school department, in charge of the principal, W. L. Davis; a grammar school, taught by George W. Bochert; and a primary department, taught by Elsie Davis. The high school has a four-vears* course and is classified as third grade.

Moccasin Creek. The earliest on Salt Creek were those of Dunkel and Sttimpf near Aclelphi and the Reichelderfers (John and Christian). The first settlers here had their grinding done at Crouse's mill in the vicinity of Chillicothe; at a later date they had their grist ground at Van Gundy's mill, on the Kinnickianick. A grist-mill in Salt Creek township was built by Jacob Strous on Salt Creek in 1S20. A sawmill was built here in 1825, the original grist-mill was replaced by another in 183 j, and a carding machine put in in 1834. All these were run by water power. In 1810 of 1811, Abraham Barnet erected a sawmill on Salt Creek at Tarlton, It was run as a sawmill until 1815, in which year the property was purchased by George Wolf, who made extensive improvements and also built a flouring mill. At length finding that the water power was not sufficient for his purpose, he made an original experiment about 1830 or 1831. in the line of introducing steam power, which, however, proved a complete failure. A steam sawmill was built at Tarlton in 1849 by a joint stock company.

The first physician to take up his residence in the township was Dr. Waldo. Dr. Otis Ballard settled at Tarlton in 1S17, and practiced until 1842, when lie was compelled to retire on account of poor health. In 1879 the town had two physicians: Dr. J. J. Baker and Dr. J. R. Kelch. The former is still actively engaged in practice here. The village has two other physicians : Dr. Samuel J. Irwin, who has been

Was organized March 6, 1853, the first officers being: J. W. Steele, X. G. ; j. Metzler, V. G. ; Sylvester V. Firor, secretary, and Archibald Lybrand, treasurer. The lodge is a flourishing one and owns its own building, which is valued at $3,500.

Was laid out about tSoi by Benjamin Newell, and was first called Xewellstown. It is situated on Salt Creek, on the north line of the township and in 1900 contained 388 inhabitants. The Columbus & Southern Railroad runs through the town.* The first building erected here was the log cabin of Christopher Myers, and the first store was kept by a man named McLane. Jacob Sayler kept the next store on the same lot where the cabin of Myers stood. Other early traders here were Samuel Lybrand, \\ illiain and Stephen Julian, and Singleton & Carr. The first tavern was kept by John Shoemaker in his log dwelling. An early tavern in the easi end of the village was kept by a man named Markwood. 1 he first frame building erected in the township was the dwelling of John Shoemaker at Tarlton. Adam J. Xve settled at Tarlton soon after the close of the \\ ar of 1812. For many years he kept a tavern and was also in trade. The road through Tarlton was once the principal road from Kentucky to the East and General Jackson and Henry Clay used to stop here on their way to the seat of government.

The first postoffice was established in the township at Tarlton sometime prior to the War of 1812, Samuel Lybrand being the first postmaster. Adam J. Nye succeeded Lybrand and kept the office in his tavern. C. Thomas is the present postmaster. One rural route runs from Tarlton.

The business interests of Tarlton include the following: Barr Brothers, C. Mounjoy. Henry Mowery and C. Thomas, general merchandise; Nick Eethererolt", bakery; A. W. Zehrung. hardware: Samuel J. Karshner, carriage trimming and harness; W. L. Rice, cooper; D. K. Wilson, buyer and shipper of wool; S. Defenbaugh & Son, undertakers; Roberts' Hotel, run by Mrs. C. W. Roberts;

Tarlton Hotel, conducted by J. C. Shaeffer; Joseph Boyer and M. D. Hedges, blacksmiths ; J, 1'. Oberdorfer, lumber and planing-mill ; Wesley Grove, carriage and wagon repairing; Mowery & Reich and Edgar Ward, coal ; James Reich, manufacturer of sealing- wax; Leist & Durrant. concrete contractors; John W. Zehring, tinner; Lewis Spangler, boarding-house; and Samuel Hartranft and Henry Mowery, feed stables. Barr Brothers also sell implements; Nick Fethererolf, Barr Brothers. C. Mounjov and C. 1 homas are buyers and shippers of poultry. Irwin & Ballard are now building a good-sized elevator at 1 arlton.

Whisler, Strin Gtown And Leistv1Lle

families, situated in the southwestern part of Salt Creek township. The postmaster is William Fox. Leist & Fox and J. W. Wilkins sell general merchandise; Simon Hamilton is the village blacksmith.

Stringtown is a settlement located a little east of the center of the township, extending along the Circleville and Auelphi pike. The population of the entire settlement is said to be about 75 or So.- Levi Imler conducts a grocery and Noah Butterbaugh is engaged in blacksmithing.

At Leistville, which is situated on the western border of the township a little north of the center, is a small settlement of about 40 or 50 population. Andy A. Grove has a blacksmith shop here.

Source changes here: from HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY, OHIO AND REPERESENTATIVE CITIZENS, by HON. AARON R. VAN CLEAF, published 1906; 8,100 words in this source stream.

Pickaway Township

No section of the county or, indeed, of the whole State is invested with such extraordinary interest as is this township. Here were situated the Indian towns, for the destruction of which Lord Dunmore's campaign was organized. On its soil the army made its encampment and by a treaty brought to a close what threatened to be a long and bloody war. At the time the army of Lord Dunmore came into this country, in 1774, there were a number of important villages on the Pickaway Plains and the vicinity, the most important of which were Cornstalk's Town and Grenadier Squawtown, The former, named after the famous Shawnee chief, Cornstalk, was located just north of where the iron bridge crosses Scippo Creek on the Chillicothe turnpike; the latter, named for the sister of Cornstalk, the Grenadier Squaw, was located just south of the bridge. Camp Charlotte was situated on Scippo Creek in the southwest quarter of section 12, while the encampment of General Lewis was on the southeast quarter of section 30 on Congo Creek.

On the farm later settled by the Boggs family, now known as "Elmwood Farm," is located the large elm, under which the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, is said to have delivered the speech made famous by Thomas Jefferson, in his "Notes on Virginia." This speech was not made in council, for Logan refused to attend the meeting at Camp Charlotte where the talk was held, and Lord Dunmore sent a trader by the name of John Gibson to inquire the cause of his absence. When Gibson arrived at the Indian town, Logan came to him and by Logan's request they went into au adjoining wood and sat down. Here, after shedding an abundance of tears, the Chief told his pathetic story. Gibson repeated it to the officers, who caused it to be published in the Virginia Gazette of that year.

The version of the speech, as given by Thomas Jefferson, is as follows: "I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry and I gave him not meat; if ever he came cold or naked and I gave him not.clothing. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained in his tent an advocate for peace. Nay, such was. my love for the whites, that those of my own country pointed at me as they passed by and said, "Logan is the friend of white men.' I had even thought to live with you but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, cut off all the relatives of Logan; not sparing even my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any human creature. This called on me for revenge. I have, sought it. I have killed many. I have fully glutted my revenge. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. Yet, do not harbor the thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his. heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one."

Logan's last years were truly melancholy. "He wandered about from tribe to tribe a solitary and lonely. man. Dejected and brokenhearted by the loss of his friends and the decay of his tribe, he resorted to the stimulus of strong drink to drown his sorrow. He was at last murdered in Michigan near Detroit." Views of the Logan Elm, which is still standing, are shown elsewhere in this work. It is entitled to consideration, not only for the

B. Logan's cabin at Old Chillicothe, now Westfall, four miles below Circleville; from this place a trail led through Grenadier Squawcown, and from thence up the Congo Valley, and crossed to the sppoeite side of the creek, about one and one-half miles from its mouth.

D. Council house a short distance northeast of the residence of William Renick, Jr. The two parallel lines at this point represent the gauntlet through which prisoners were forced to run, and O the stake at which they were burned, which last is on a commanding elevation.

E. The camp of Colonel Lewis, just south of the residence of George Wolf. The Logan Elm is about a mile north of the site of the camp of Lewis on Congo creek.

F. The point where Lord Dunmore met with and stopped the army of Lewis when on their way to attack the Indians. It is opposite the mansion of Maj. John Boggs.

The Indians lingered about this region for some time after the arrival of the whites. They had camps in the township, but no villages, after the first settlers located here. In their intercourse with their pale-faced brethren they were uniformly friendly and no trouble or annoyance was caused by their presence.

of the Pickaway Plains, which make up the greater part of the township. In Howe's 'Historical Collections of Ohio," is quoted the following description of the Pickaway Plains: "They are divided into two parts, the greater or upper plains, and the lesser or lower one. The soil was very black when first cultivated ; the result of vegetable decomposition through a long succession of ages. These plains are based on water-worn gravel and pebbles. The upper plain is at least 150 feet above the bed of the river, which passes about a mile west of them. Their form is elliptical, with the longest diameter from northeast to southwest, being about seven miles by three and a half or four miles. They were destitute of trees when first visited by the whites. The fertility was such as to produce one hundred bushels of corn, or fifty of wheat to the acre, for many years, but they are now less productive."

When the first settlers came here, they found the plains covered with a rank growth of grass, which grew to such a height that ir could be tied over a horse's back. The land was ready for cultivation, no clearing being necessary. To this circumstance is attributed the early settlement and development of the township. On account of the almost unexampled fertility of the virgin soil of the Pickaway Plains, this section became known as the "Garden Spot of Ohio." While the productiveness of the soil is not so great now as in the early days of the settlement, crops are raised which amply repay the efforts of the husbandman.

The surface of the township is chiefly rolling, with the exception of the portion comprising the Pickaway Plains, where it is almost perfectly level. The principal stream is Scippo Creek, which enters the township in section 12, flows a tortuous course through the northern part and reaches the Scioto River two miles north of the southern line of the township. Congo Creek, also an important stream, flows through the southern part and unites with Scippo Creek a mile above its mouth. The Kinnickinnick, in the eastern part of the township, is the only other stream worthy of mention.

township in the county in point of area, embraces all of-township 10, range 21 (Worthington's survey), containing 36 square miles, and fractional township 3, range 22, lying between the western line of range 21 and the Scioto River, containing about 11 square miles. The total area of the township, therefore, is about 47 square miles. The population of the township, according to the census of 1900, is 1,231. The township was organized before Pickaway County was erected. The first justice of the peace is said to have been David Shelby. Another early magistrate was Jonathan Ellis. The present townships officers are as follows: Trtistees - William F. Stout, Burr H. Rader and Isaac E. Morris; clerk, Edward Wilkins; treasurer, Marvin H: Dresbach; assessor, Adam Kuntz; justice of the peace, George Wilson; constable, Barney Ankrom.

Early Settlers

The first settlements in Pickaway township were made toward the close of the 18th century, in 1796 or 1797. The first cabins were erected on Zanes' "Trace," which led through the plains from the crossing of the Hockhocking River (now Lancaster) to Chillicothe. While it cannot be stated with absolute certainty who was the first settler, it seems to be generally agreed that Caleb Evans is entitled to the honor. He was born in Pennsylvania. thence removed to Kentucky where he resided until 1796 or 1797, when he came to Ohio and settled on Scippo Creek on: the Pickaway Plains. The first white child born in the township, and probably the first in Pickaway County, was Mary Evans, daughter of Caleb Evans and his wife Elizabeth, the date of her birth being June 8, 1798.

George Fryback and family settled here in 1798. He first located on Scippo Creek in section 7, but the following spring he removed to the mouth of Congo Creek, where he remained until the land came into market in 1801, when he entered the south half of section 6. James Wilson located at Chillicothe in May, 1798, and soon after removed to the banks of the Congo, iust above its junction

Among the earliest settlers of the township were Capt. John Boggs and his son, Maj. John Boggs. Captain Boggs, who was a native ot Pennsylvania, removed with his family to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1771, and settled at the mouth of Boggs' Run, apposite Boggs' Island, near old Fort Henry. In 1796 he and his son John came to this section of Ohio to make a selection of land for settlement. They came down the Ohio in a keel-boat to the mouth of the Scioto, then with others, on a barge, to what was- called "the station,' below Chillicothe. They landed here and came on foot along the river to section 7, Pickaway township, where Captain Boggs made a location, which he subsequently entered. He brought out his family in 1798, and subsequently moved to Scippo Creek, on the hjll above the present bridge, where he built a one-story brick house, one of the first brick houses erected in the township. Maj. John Boggs, his son, settled on the farm later occupied by his son, James T. Boggs, on which the Logan Elm is situated, and erected a brick house in 1816. It is said that in 1803 he took the' first flatboat, loaded with flour, down the Scioto. to New Orleans, although cargoes of pork and whiskey had been shipped down before. The return trips were made on horseback. He served in the War of 1812 with the rank of major.

John Rager, Jacob Greenough and Samuel and David Denny were among the early squatters on the Pickaway Plains. John Rager and Jacob Greenough afterward settled in Washington township. David Denny, who had a blacksmith shop on Congo Creek, in section 32, removed to the Walnut Plains in Harrison township in 1800 or soon thereafter. George Hitler, Sr., and family, from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, settled in Pickaway township in the spring of 1799; some five or six years later he removed to section 33, Washington township. Samuel Morehead came here from Kentucky about the same time as the Hitlers. John Gay, the father of Mrs. George Hitler, came here with his family in

And Represent Tative Citizens 161

1799. He resiced in this township until his death at the age of 102 years and 10 months. Another settler who came here in 1799 was Samuel Seall, Sr., who located in section 9, and six or seven years later moved to Walnut township. His son, Samuel Seall, followed blacksmithing in the village of Jefferson, for a number of years. Afterward he followed farming in Pickaway township, and in the spring of 1845 settled in \Washington township where he died.

on the Pickaway Plains. Subsequently, in 1803, he laid out the town of Jefferson, which prospered until Circleville was started, when it declined. The first term of the Court of Common Pleas for Pickaway County was held at Mr. Nevill's house in Jefferson.

Other early settlers in the township who came here in the last years of the 18th century or first years of the 19th were Thomas and John Barr, John Sharp, John Rush, Matthew Ferguson (who attained the advanced age of g9 years) and Jonathan Ellis, an early cabinetmaker and carpenter, who constructed the frame of the Boggs mill. David Shelby was also one of the first settlers in Pickaway township, locating here prior to 1800. He was a member of the State Legislature for 21 con secutive years, with the exception of one term, and was the first justice of the peace elected in the township of Pickaway.

Jacob Stingley came here in 1805 ; Hugh Foresman, in 1806; Thomas Emerson, James Hedges and Gabriel Steely, about 1807. Philip and Joseph Hedges, father and cousin, respectively, of James Hedges, arrived here a short time after he made his settlement. James Torbert, a son-in-law of Hugh Foresman, and Jacob Wagner settled in Pickaway township in 1808; William Caldwell and family, in 1809; George Kellenberger and wife, soon after the close of the War of 1812: John Entrekin, who had settled in Ross County as early as 1798, became a resident of Pickaway township in now known as Meade. As early as 1802 or 1803 a log meeting-hcuse was built, in which church services were held. Rev. James Quinn, a circuit preacher, held services in this building. In the fall of 1816 another log church was built, which was subsequently weatherboarded. This church continued to be used until the present frame structure was erected, which is valued at $1,800. The pastor of the church is Rev. Stone, of Kingston. The charge was originally in the Pickaway Circuit, then in the Circleville, and is now in the Kingston Circuit. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 50 members; the superintendent 1s John \W. Stump.

Emmett's Chapel. - The Methodists organized a society on the plains in an early date and held meetings alternately with the Presbyterian Church, which was organized in 1808 by Rev. James Robinson, then of the Mount Pleasant Church. The Presbyterian society hetd its meetings usually at the house of Maj. John Boggs or John Rawl. In 1816 Mr. Robinson commenced preaching one-third of his time in the Rawl schoolhouse, near the present site of Emmett's Chapel. The Methodist and Presbyterian societies continued to hold their meetings alternately in this schoolhouse until about 1835,°when they united in erecting a brick church on a hill just south of Congo Creek bridge. It was used by them alternately for about 10 years when, some difficulty between the two arising, the Methodists withdrew and provided another place of worship. Elias Reed, a leading member, bought the farm of John Rawl and turned the dwelling into a meeting-house. This was used by the society until 1852, when the present Emmett's Chapel, named in honor of the pioneer Methodist preacher, Father Emmett, was built. The Presbyterians continued to use the brick church on the hill for a few years after the Methodists withdrew. By reason of removals and deaths their number became so reduced that preaching could not be supported and the house was sold and taken down.

Palestine Church, in the northeastern part of the township, was built about the year 1840 by a German Reformed and Lutheran Society. The Methodists afterwards bought an interest

Ebenezer Church of the Evangelical Association stands about half a mile east of Hayesville, near the center of the township. The class was formed by Rev. John Dreisbach in 1835, the first members being Rev. John Dreisbach and wife, Thomas Krait and wife, Adam Boyer and wife and John Kraft and wife. Abraham Dreisbach, who subsequently became minister of the church, and Isaac E., Catherine and Sophia Dreisbach and Mrs. Eliza Steely were also early members, uniting soon after the organization was effected. The first meetings were held at the dwellings of the members and afterwards in a log schoolhouse. Subsequently the society used the frame schoolhouse, which replaced the log one, until the erection of their present church in the summer of 1850. Rev. John Dreisbach, who lived on the farm where the church is located and whose remains lie beside those of his wife in the adjoining cemetery, gave the ground for the church and cemetery, and the sum of $1,000 toward the building of the church. The church is especially historic to the members of the Evangelical Association from the -fact that Mr. Dreisbach was one of the.founders of the association, which was first known as the Albright Church, being a co-worker with Bishop Albright. The church building cost $903.61 to erect. It was dedicated December 22, 1850, by Bishop Joseph Long and Presiding Elder J. G. Zinser. The outside of the building has never been structurally changed, but the interior has been remodeled several times. Rev. John Dreisbach preached for the class for a few years, until the regular circuit preachers were appointed. John Heisler was class leader until 1840, when Isaac E. Dreisbach, son of Rev. John Dreisbach and father of the present Sunday-school superintendent, B. F. Dreisbach, was appointed. Isaac E. Dreisbach continued as leader until his death in 1897 - a period of 57 years. a present membership of 50. Rev. G. W. Miesse, of Stoutsville, is pastor. The church building, although over 50 years old, has received such good care that it is still in excellent condition, being worth about $2,000 at this time. The sexton's house adjoining the church is valued at $600. B. F. Dreisbach has served as Sunday-school superintendent for the past 31 years.

There was formerly an organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pickaway township. The church property, located near the Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery, has not been used for some 25 or 30 years. The last services held in the church were those attending the funeral of Jacob Hitler, which took place about 20 years ago.

The first place in the township chosen for burial purposes was the Boggs burying-ground, in which the first person buried, whose grave is still marked, was David Boggs, who died May 10, 1800, in the 10th year of his age. The next was Jacob Sayler, who died September 21, 1800, aged 52 years. The first burials in the old and now dilapidated Jefferson buryingground were those of Nancy Evans, in August, 1813; and Willard Evans, in September of the same year. In the burying-ground at Meade near the Methodist Episcopal Church, Susannah Crow, who died July 8, 1809, was the first person interred. Thomas Crow was buried here in January, 1814. This cemetery is still used and is kept in fairly good condition. The cemetery adjoining Ebenezer Church is kept in very good shape, the sexton being in constant attendance. Some of the earliest interments in cemetery in Ross County, a mile southwest of Kingston. The first grave was that of Jane Harrison, wife of George Harrison, deceased September 6, 1800. The next was that of Jane Denny, who died in October, 1800.

The first schools in the township were kept in unoccupied cabins and were supported by private subscriptions. Jesse Bartlett was one of the pioneer teachers. The first schoolhouse was probably the Rawl schoolhouse, in which the first term of school was kept by Hugh

And Representative Citizens

Hannagan. The first log meeting-house built at Salem (Meade) in 1802 or 1803 was also used as a schoolhouse. David Jones was one of those who taught school in this house. There are now nine schoolhouses in the township, all built of brick and in good condition. The Board of Education of Pickaway township is constituted as follows: Amos Hoffman, Dennis C. Rader, Henry R. Calvert, Charles Hall and Willis Ludwig. Edward Wilkins is clerk of the board.

The Meade schoolhouse, the largest and best known in the township, consists of two rooms; M. D. Kreider and Charles Kreider are the teachers. It is a brick structure with slate roof.

Dr. William B. Gould, who settled at Jefferson in 1802 or 1803, was the first physician resident in the township. He practiced with moderate success for about 15 years. Dr. Daniel Turney settled at Jefferson in 1806; after a stay of five or six years he removed to Circleville.

Early Mills

The pioneers of the township obtained their grist, at first, at a floating mill located on the Scioto, below Chillicothe. Subsequently Crouse's mill was erected on the Kinnickinnick in Ross County and the settlers then went there to mill. The first grist-mill in this township was built on Scippo Creek by Daniel Dreisbach about 1815; there was another mill on the same stream at an early date, which was owned by Benedict Morris. Chistopher Bartley erected a frame grist-mill on Scippo Creek, which he ran until his death. Benjamin Shelby, son of David Shelby, the pioneer, afterwards bought the mill of Bartley's heirs and moved it down to the road and rebuilt it. He afterwards added a sawmill. The property was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1871. In 1819 Maj. John Boggs erected, near the mouth of Scippo Creek, a frame grist-mill, of three run of stone; he had previously erected a sawmill at the same place. He operated the mill until 1827; on Christmas day of that year his son, Lemuel

Boggs, was caught in the machinery and crushed to death. Major Boggs then retired from active control of the concern, selling a half interest in the mill to George Kellenberger. There were a number of sawmills on Scippo Creek at an early day. At Jefferson, Henry Nevil erected in the first settlement of the township, a wind-mill, which was used for "cracking corn' for a time. It was not thought much of by his neighbors or by himself. It was a high structure, with long, broad fans or wings, and was a terror to the farmers' horses.

Meade And Other Small Towns Of The

Thatcher is a town of about 35 population, located on the pike from Circleville to Adelphi, on the north line of the township. Edward Barr has a general store here and Thatcher & Valentine, a blacksmith shop. J. S. Valentine is also in business here as a buyer and shipper of poultry. The postoffice at Thatcher was discontinued three years ago.

Hayesville is a settlement of 10 families in the northwestern section of the township, being located on the Norfolk & Western Railway. Fred Dumm conducts a grocery and hardware store; W. H. Grove is the village blacksmith and C. W. Rife operates the Dunlap elevator at this point.

Elmwood is a station on the Norfolk & Western Railway in the southwest section of the township. Here is located the Elmwood elevator, which was erected by Lemuel Boggs in the fall of 1876. The elevator is now being conducted by John Boggs and Chris. Weldon.

The Old Village Of Jefferson

township. The first store here was opened by Nevill and was carried on by him alone for a few years, when he took Joseph Hedges as a partner. Another early store was that of George Brown. Subsequently quite a number of stores were established here and at one time Jefferson could justly boast of the extent of her mercantile trade. 'The founder ot the village built the first tavern, which was first kept by a party named Bobst, who was succeeded by Henry Tom. The sign of the tavern displayed the portrait of Thomas Jefferson, in whose honor the town was named. Joseph Adamson was the last proprietor of the house, afterwards removing to Circleville, where he kept the Valley House. There were two other hotels built at Jefferson, one of which was the Caldwell house, 'kept by William Caldwell and others. There were also the other establishments necessary to a town with a population of some 300 or 400. There was one brick building in the place, the dwelling of Major Puthuff, who served in the War of 1812. The house was finally purchased by John B. Moore, who took it down and rebuilt it in Circleville. The first courts held in the county, as stated previously, were held at Jefferson and-a strong effort was made by the proprietor and the inhabitants to secure the location of the county seat. But this failed and the town began to go down and many dwellings were moved away. In 1840 the place had decreased to 85 inhabitants. No vestige of the town now remains.

Jefferson and the neighboring town of Livingston in Circleville township, which has also disappeared, were the resort of the intemperate, idle and dissolute and were a great annoyance to the sober farmers in their vicinity.

Chapter Aiv

When Pickaway County was erected, it was formed out of portions of Fairfield, Ross and Franklin counties. Salt Creek township comprised the territory taken from Fairfield County. It is six miles square and is bounded on the north by Fairfield County, on the east by Hocking Couuty, on the south by Ross County and on the west by Pickaway township, Pickaway County. It is one of the earliest settled townships of the county, as well as one of the most productive.

The principal stream is Salt Creek, which runs through and gives its name to the township. It rises in Fairfield County and flows southeasterly through the township, leaving it in the southeastern corner, at the same time gathering up several tributaries in its course, the largest of which is Laurel Creek, which is mostly in Hocking County. Moccasin Creek flows south through the eastern part of the county, then goes into Hocking County, where it joins Laurel Creek. The most important western branches of Salt Creek are Pike Hale Run and Plum Run, which have a general southeasterly course. Scippo Creek, a branch of the Scioto River, enters the county in the northwest corner of section 6 and leaves it in section 7.

Along Salt Creek and in the prairie portions of the township are exce}lent corn lands, while the more elevated portions are better adapted to the growth of the small grains and grass. In the southern portion of the township, where there is more or less prairie, the surface js comparatively level, while in the eastern portion it is somewhat broken and hilly; on the whole

Noble forests covered the greater portion of the township, when the first settlers came here, the principal varieties of timber being the oak (of several kinds), hickory, walnut, mulberry, cherry, buckeye, paw-paw and elm.

In the early settlement of the township, deer, wild turkeys and small game were very numerous, the killing of a deer being quite an ordinary occurrence. Wolves were plenty and very annoying, killing the sheep of the settler and making a hideous noise with their constant howling. The township was not much inhabited by bears, although they frequently came in and several were killed by the hunters of Salt Creek. The last bear killed in Pickaway County was shot in Salt Creek township in 1840 by Jonathan Dreisbach and John Reichelderfer, who shot the animal simultaneously.

In the apportionment of the justices of the peace by the Board of County Commissioners on April 6, 1810, Salt Creek had two, viz.: Jacob Lutz and William Drury. By act of the Legislature, passed March 7, 1843, that part of Adelphi in Salt Creek township was attached to Ross County. The population of the township in 1900 was 1,680. The present township: officials are as follows: Trtstees - William Allen, A. A. Reichelderfer and George C. Lathouse; clerk, Perry Aldenderfer ; treasurer, Wayne Reichelderfer; assessor, Daniel L. Heffner; justices of the peace - Earnest Goldfredrick and Isaac W. Rossiter; constables - Henry Imler and Charles Hunt.

While the land of the township was not put on sale by the government until 1801, there were quite a few squatters that located here previously, who had been attracted by the rich lands, along Salt Creek. Some of these squatters remained and purchased land, while others moved to other sections. Among those who were here before 1801 and who therefore may be termed squatters were: Alexander Berry, John May, Conrad Kline, Matthias Hedges, Andrew Bussard, Christopher (or Christian) Myers, Jacob Sayler, Sr., and George Pontious.

The first man to enter land in Salt Creek township was John Shoemaker, who came from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1801. At the sale of government land, in May of that year, he made an entry of land, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. The first patent was issued to him and bears date of April 20, 1802, being signed by Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States and James Madison, Secretary of State. He returned to Ohio in 1806 with his family.

William Stumpf came here from Berk's County, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1801 and entered section 24. He then returned home and two years later settled on his property. He was largely engaged in the business of buying and selling cattle, driving the cattle across the mountains to Eastern markets.

In 1802 Jacob and John Lutz came here from Pennsylvania, arriving in the township on the 15th day of September. The eldest son of Samuel Lutz, Samuel, was then a youth of 13 years. On October 15, 1811, Samuel Lutz married Elizabeth Fetherof and went to farming on a 185-acre tract given him by his father. He was a pioneer surveyor of the county and it is a matter of record that in 1810 he surveyed the first public road ordered by the 'commissioners of Pickaway County. For a period of over 70 years he continued in service as a surveyor, also following agricultural pursuits. He served in the militia in the War of 1812, was in the State Legislature for four sessions and for 18 years filled the office of justice of the peace. He lived to the age of 102 years.

His rooth anniversary was celebrated by a large company of his friends gathering at his home to do him honor. One of his. sons was the well-known John A. Lutz.

'Abraham Monnett, George Dunkel and Jacob Shoemaker came here in 1803. The last named subsequently moved to Circleville and was associate judge of Pickaway County for a number of years. The arrivals in 1805 included Conrad Brancher, Christopher Holderman and John Judy. In 1806 John Reichelderfer and family and his son John and family came to this township from Berks County, Pennsylvania. John Rarmon, Henry Wissler (Whisler, as the name is now spelled), Abraham Dreisbach and Henry Drum also settled in Salt Creek in 1806. Abraham Heffner and Nicholas Whitesel came here in 1807; George' Dreisbach and his brothers in 1811; also their brother-in-law, Peter Spyker, in the same year. Jacob Sayler, son of Jacob Sayler, Sr., previously mentioned, came here some time during the War of 1812; Godfrey Creamer, who had been a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, about 1820; Andrew Delong, in 1831; and George Riegel, in 1832. Other early settlers of the township were: Samuel Lybrand, John Burns, Joseph Schoots, Benjamin Kepner, Henry Mathias, Jacob Spangler, Samuel Noble and David and Jacob Foust.

As early as 1805 4 Baptist Church was organized in the southwestern part of the township. It was called the Salt Creek Baptist Church until 1812, when the Lemuel Church uniting with it, the name was changed to Union Baptist Church. The first meetings were held at the dwellings of the members until a meeting-house was erected in section 28, which was constructed of hickory logs. In 1841 or 1842 a church building was erected at Prairie View (now Whisler) at a cost of about $2,000. Rev. Benjamin Case, who was the first pastor of the society, is supposed to have organized it. This church has been out of existence for 30 years or more.

Another early church of the township was the German Reformed Church, organized at Tarlton about 1807 by Rev. George Wise, of Lancaster. About the same time a German Lutheran society was formed, and the societies shortly afterwards united in the erection of a log-meeting-house. About 1830 they put up a log-and-frame building, which continued to be used by the two societies for some years. The German Reformed society erected a brick church of their own prior to 1861, in which year the Lutherans built a frame church edifice. The German Reformed society continued to prosper until sundry innovations 'upon established usage were introduced into the church by Rev. Samuel Jacobs, who finally joined the Cumberland Presbyterians, taking most of his church with him. The litigation over the ownership of the church property that followed resulted in favor of the new organization, and the remnant of the original society built a frame house in the southeastern part of Tarlton. About 30 years ago the German Reformed society fell into difficulties, their church was sold at sheriff's sale and the society disbanded.

St. Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Tarlton was organized November 8, 1861. A Lutheran society had existed at Tarlton, however, from a very early date, the meetings having been held as stated in the preceding paragraph, in the same building with the German Reformed society until the organization of St. Jacob's Church and the erection of the present church building, which is a frame structure valued at $1,200. The following have served as pastor of St. Jacob's Church since 1882: Revs. J. E. Wesner, W. H. Fishburn, G. W. Hudson, James F. Beattes, W. L. Hunton and J. M. Wenrich, of Stoutsville, the present pastor, who took charge in 1891. The present membership of the society is 125. Orestes Mowery is superintendent of the Sundayschool, which has a membership of 50. ©

Tarlton Presbyterian Church. - The Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Tarlton was finally changed to a Presbyterian Church, of which Rev. W. W. Carhart, of Whisler, is now pastor. The church property is valued at $1,- 500; while the building, as has been indicated cement walks and presents a very creditable appearance. The present membership of the church is 115. Harvey Mowery is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has a membership of 100.

Whisler Presbyterian Church. - In February, 1859, a Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Prairie View (Whisler) was organized by Rev. Archibald Brice at the Oak Grove M. E. Church, the society comprising some I0 or II members at its formation. Until the completion of their house of worship, a frame structure, erected in the fall of 1860, which is still doing service, the society met in a frame schoolhouse. Some time ago, the society became a Presbyterian Church, and is now known as the Whisler Presbyterian Church. The church building is valued at $1,000. The society has also a good parsonage at Whisler, built about IO years ago at a cost of $1,800. The church has a membership of about 100. Rev. W. W. Carhart is pastor. The flourishing Sundayschool connected with this church has a membership of about 125; the superintendent is Mrs. Nellie Quillen.

Jerusalem Church, or the Stumpf Church as it is frequently styled, was organized by Revs. George Wise and Jacob Leist about the year 1820 as a German Reformed society. Rev. Jacob Leist was one of the earliest of the pioneer preachers of this region. He came to Salt Creek township in its early settlement, began preaching soon after his arrival and continued in the ministry for a great many years. He proved a valuable accession to the settlement and during the long period of his ministry was highly esteemed for his moral worth. He married Elizabeth Shoemaker, daughter of Judge Jacob Shoemaker and fixed his residence where death. The church services were held in a schoolhouse, located in the northeast corner of section 26, until 1831, when a brick. house of worship was built. The present, neat, brick church was erected in 1877 at a cost of $3,000. Rev. Henry King and Rev. Jacob Leist - the former a Reformed minister and the latter a

In 1819 or 1820 members of the German Reformed and Lutheran denominations residing in the western part of the township built a log meeting-house, in which services were held for a number of years, although no organization was ever effected. A United Brethren society was subsequently formed there, and occupied the house for some years, when it disbanded. The meeting-house finally burned down.

The Dresbach U. B. Church was organized about 1820 at the house of George Dreisbach ; among the first members were George Dreisbach and wife, Henry Dreisbach and wife, John Dreisbach and Elizabeth Whitesel. The appointment has been for. many years on the Pickaway Circuit, which now embraces four appointments: Pontius, Morris, Dresbach and Fairview. The pastor of the circuit is Rev. O. M. Martin, who succeeded Rey. D. W. Lambert in September, 1906. In 1829 the present brick church on the north line of the township was built. Until six years ago, when the parsonage at Circleville was bought, the pastor of the Pickaway Circuit resided at Tarlton. The church has a present membership of 42. In 1841 a general conference of the United Brethren churches of the United States was held at the Dresbach Church.

The Tarlton U. B. Church was organized about 1840 by Revs. Lewis, Ambrose and Joshua Montgomery and consisted of eight members. The building was erected two or three years later and stands just north of the county line. Before the erection of the church, the society held its meetings at the house of Jacob Larick. The church was formerly quite prosperous.

The Tarlton M. E. Church was organized sometime before 1825. The first meetings of the Methodists in this township were held at a very early date at the house of Abraham Monnett. The Tarlton church was formerly in the Adelphi Circuit, Chillicothe District, which embraced 20 appointments in Pickaway, Vinton, Ross, Fairfield and Hocking counties. In 1841 Tarlton Circuit was formed from Adelphi with seven appointments, of which the Tarlton church and Haller's Chapel were the only ones in Pickaway County. In 1870 South Perry Circuit was detached from Tarlton, leaving the latter with four appointments: Tarlton, in Pickaway County; and Hopewell, Amanda and Oakland, in Fairfield County. The meetings of the Tarlton church were held in the log schoolhouse until 1840, when a church edifice was erected. The following were the pastors of the Adelphi Circuit up to the time the Tarlton Circuit was formed: Revs. E. H. Field, George C. Crum, William Westlake, Philip Nation, John Stuart, John W. White, John Stuart, Wesley Roe, Benjamin Ellis, David Lewis, Benjamin Ellis, J. B. Austin, Charles C. Lybrand, Richard Daughty, James Parsons and Richard Daughty. The first preacher, after the formation of the Tarlton Circuit, was Rev. Daniel Poe, who was followed by Revs. James Laws, Alexander Morrow, Joseph Morris, David H. Sargent, John M. Clark, Andrew Carroll, E. T. Webster, John W. Steele, Mc- Cutcheon, Gortner, Fink, Howard, Bennett, Anderson, Kirkman, G. G. West, L. Whitehead, John T. Miller, Isaac F. King, Benjamin Ellis, John T. Miller, Andrew Carroll, Benjamin Ellis, Thomas R. Taylor, W. F. Filler, B. Wolfe, Ross, Sibley, Weir, Ebright, Hall, Hanawalt, Thomas Hall, Pickets, McClintock, T. S. Thurston, Isaac Mackey and Berry, who. was pastor in 1879. Rev. R. A. Blair of Adelphi, is the present incumbent. The church has a membership of about 100. The church building is valued at $3,000 and the parsonage, a seven-room structure, is valued at $1,500. The Sunday-school, of which William Shoemaker is superintendent, has a membership of about 8o.

The Whisler M. E. Church, formerly known.as the Oak Grove M. E. Church, was. organized in 1858 by a union of the Warren schoolhouse class and that at Hallers Chapel. A church building was put up that summer and dedicated in the fall of the year by Rev. Mr. Felton. About two years ago the society built a new frame church at Whisler at a cost of $2,- ooo and the name was changed to Whisler M. E. Church. Rev. J. L. Landsittle, of Adelphi,

The English Evangelical Lutheran Church at Tarlton was formed by Rev. Nathan B. Little in 1835 with about 30 members. The church building of the Old School Presbyterjans was occupied as the place of worship until 1841, when the society erected the church building at Tarlton they have since used. For the last seven or eight years services have not been held regularly. A minister has been engaged who will serve both this church and the English Evangelical Church at Circleville. The church is not in a flourishing financial condition. The membership is only 20, whereas in 1879 it was about 60; nearly all the former members have died or moved away. The Sunday-school, of which Miss Ida Mowrey is superintendent and James Porter of Leistville, assistant superintendent, has a membership of 30.

In January, 1875, a church of the Evangelical Association was formed at Pleasant View, two miles north of Whisler, composed of about 20 members. The church building was erected the following summer and was dedicated September 5, 1875, by Rev. R. Dubs. Rev. S. E. Rife was the first pastor. Other early pastors of this church were Revs. Hankey, Wingard, Ellenberger, Munn, Rinehold and Evans. This organization has been split into two societies, both of which worship in the same church building. Rev. Davis, who lives near the church, is pastor of one, and Rev. Stumpf, who lives at Stoutsville, is pastor of the other.

The oldest cemetery in the township is the one known as the Stumpf burying-ground, in which the first person buried was Jane Defenbaugh, who died in October, 1804. The ground for her burial was donated by George Dunkel, The cemetery at the Dresbach U. B. Church is also one of the oldest in the township; many of the Dreisbach family have been buried here. Mound Hill Cemetery, located near Whisler, is still used for interments and is in good condition. The township cemetery is located near the center of the township and is controlled by the township trustees. There are also a number of other burial grounds scattered throughout the township.

What was probably the first schoolhouse in the township was built on the southwest quar+ ter of section 24, about 1803 or 1804. About the same time a rude log structure was built in Tarlton near the site of the present Methodist Episcopal Church. A man named Mitchell kept the first term of school in this house. The first school in the southwestern part of the township was kept in a log schoolhouse on the farm of Joseph Schoots, in section 33. One of the early teachers was Timothy Beach. The Board of Education of Salt Creek township, elected in November, 1904, is constituted as follows: Daniel D. Mowrey, Rufus Reichelderfer and Jacob Friece - four years; Allen Drum and George B. Armstrong - two years. There are nine sehool buildings in the township. The school at Whisler has two rooms, which are taught by Oliver Floyd and Anna Pontius. This is a special district; A. W. Imler is clerk of the board.

The trustees of the Tarlton Special School District are as follows: L. B. Thomas, Henry Mowrey, Clay F. Macklin and M. D. Kreider, there being one vacancy. The Tarlton school building was erected in 1899, at a cost of $4,- ooo. It includes a high school department, in charge of the principal, W. L. Davis; a grammar school, taught by George W. Bochert; and a primary department, taught by Elsie Davis. The high school has a four-years' course and is classified as third grade.

Moccasin Creek. The earliest on Salt Creek were those of Dunkel and Stumpf near Adelphi and the Reichelderfers (John and Christian). The first settlers here had their grinding done at Crouse's mill in the vicinity of Chillicothe; at a later date they had their grist ground at Van Gundy's mill, on the Kinnickinnick. A grist-mill in Salt Creek township was built by Jacob Strous on Salt Creek in 1820. A sawmill was built here in 1825, the original grist-mill was replaced by another in 1831, and a carding machine put in in 1834. All these were run by water power. In 1810 of 1811, Abraham Barnet erected a sawmill on Salt Creek at Tarlton. It was run as a sawmill until 1815, in which year the property was purchased by George Wolf, who made extensive improvements and also built a flouring mill. At length finding that the water power was not sufficient for his purpose, he made an original experiment about 1830 or 1831, in the line of introducing steam power, which, however, proved a complete failure. A steam sawmill was built at Tarlton in 1849 by a joint stock company.

The first physician to take up his residence in the township was Dr. Waldo. Dr. Otis Ballard settled at Tarlton in 1817, and practiced until 1842, when he was compelled to retire on account of poor health. In 1879 the town had two physicians: Dr. J. J. Baker and Dr. J. R. Kelch. The former is still actively engaged in practice here. The village has two other physicians: Dr. Samuel J. Irwin, who has been located here since 1888; and Dr. Frank M. Macklin.

Was organized March 6, 1853, the first officers being: J. W. Steele, N. G.; J. Metzler, V. G.; Sylvester V. Firor, secretary, and Archibald Lybrand, treasurer. The lodge is a flourishing one and owns its own building, which is valued at $3,500.

Was laid out about 1801 by Benjamin Newell, and was first called Newellstown. It is situated on Salt Creek, on the north line of the township and in 1900 contained 388 inhabitants. The Columbus & Southern Railroad runs through the town. The first building erected here was the log cabin of Christopher Myers, and the first store was kept by a man named McLane. Jacob Sayler kept the next store on the same lot where the cabin of Myers stood. Other early traders here were Samuel Lybrand, William and Stephen Julian, and Singleton & Carr. The first tavern was kept by John Shoemaker in his log dwelling. An early tavern in the east end of the village was kept by a man named Markwood. The first frame: building erected in the township was the dwelling of John Shoemaker at Tarlton. Adam J. Nye settled at Tarlton soon after the close of the War of 1812. For many years he kept a tavern and was also in trade. The road through Tarlton was once the principal road from Kentucky to the East and General Jackson and Henry Clay used to stop here on their way to the seat of government.

The first postoffice was established in the township at Tarlton sometime prior to the War of 1812, Samuel Lybrand being the first postmaster. Adam J. Nye succeeded Lybrand and kept the office in his tavern. C. Thomas is the present postmaster. One rural route runs from Tarlton.

The present village officials are as follows: Mayor, M. D. Kreider; marshal, Ben Macklin; clerk, E. D. Wolfe; treasurer, L. B. Thomas; Council - J. W. Shoemaker, Edgar Ward, Z. N. Macklin, Wayne Reichelderfer, M. D. Hedges and Virgil Durrant.

The business interests of Tarlton. include the following: Barr Brothers, C. Mounjoy, Henry Mowery and C. Thomas, general merchandise; Nick Fethererolf, bakery; A. W. Zehrung, hardware; Samuel J. Karshner, carriage trimming and harness; W. L. Rice, ccoper; D. K. Wilson, buyer and shipper of wool; S. Defenbaugh & Son, undertakers; Roberts' Hotel, run by Mrs. C. W. Roberts;

Tarlton Hotel, conducted by J. C. Shaeffer : Joseph Boyer and M. D. Hedges, blacksmiths ; J. F. Oberdorfer, lumber and planing-mill; Wesley Grove, carriage and wagon repairing; Mowery & Kelch and Edgar Ward, coal; James Kelch, manufacturer of sealing wax; Leist & Durrant, concrete contractors; John W. Zehring, tinner; Lewis Spangler, boarding-house ; and Samuel Hartranft and Henry Mowery, feed stables. Barr Brothers also sell implements; Nick Fethererolf, Barr Brothers, Cc. Mounjoy and C. Thomas are buyers and shippers of poultry. Irwin & Ballard are now build- | families, situated in the southwestern part of Salt Creek township. The postmaster is William Fox. Leist & Fox and J. W. Wilkins sell general merchandise; Simon Hamilton is the village blacksmith.

Stringtown is a settlement located a little east of the center of the township, extending along the Circleville and Adelphi pike. The population of the entire settlement is said to be about 75 or 80. Levi Imler conducts a grocery and Noah Butterbaugh is engaged in blacksmithing.

At Leistville, which is situated on the western border of the township a little north of the center, is a small settlement of about 40 or 50 population. Andy A. Grove has a blacksmith. shop here.