Pike Township

Pike Township

Three men oamo and looked upon tho land thickly studded with hills and fringed ovor ivith straight, almost branchless, timbor in tho early day, nnd concluded to uinko it their homo. Their names woro John Shutt, Jaoob Koruory, and George Young ; the first died at the ago of ninely-soven ; tho last departed this life in his ninety-third year.

Prior lo 1812, Philip Siffert, Michael Holm, Henry Bordner, and Joseph Keel had mode seiilonients ; Joseph Keel, Jr., aided his father in clearing the first farm.

Auiiis Jennings was founder of Sparta, about 1S20. Judge Uazlett was an early sloro-kecper; Philip Weaver kept laverii in 1820; Luther Drury had a forge near Sparia about I^^IS. During tbe year 1817, John Holm was married to Eliiabelh Shutt by Rev. Weir, a Lutheran minister.

Schooling was neglected until the uommon school system was euaotcd, and at once schools sprang up all ovor tho township. An old log ohurch was tho pioneer building of its class. The Lutherans and Gorman Ilcformed united in its oonslruetion, and gave it the name of Melsbeimer Church. Amos Jennings construoled and ran the first and only mill in the township.

Sheep-raising was once a specialty, and now flocks of fine-wooled sheep aro numernua. Attention has been turned to oxhuming tbe masses of coal which uudorlie every hill. Thirly-ono banks are now being worked, nnd every farmer, at his option, can have his coal-mine, There are several fine limestone quarries. " Kidney" ore is found on the hill-tops.

In the early yonrs distilleries wore many ; Ihoro was much drinking nnd frequent Inwsuita. Musters wore regarded as fitting occasions for settlements, and many a bard battle took placo. Now, no liquor ia sold in tho township; the people are engaged solely in their daily toil, and give thoir children the advantages of good schools.

Joseph Medill, a mayor of Chicago and ft rcprcsontativo mun, had his birthplace in Pike Township, on tho farm now owned by Honry Stands, in tho vicinity of the Sandy River,

Tbe township was slow of settlement; as lato ns ISIO not a grub was cut between North Industry and Canton. The winter's snow bent down the bushes over the roadway, and prevented the passage of the huge wagons of that time.

Tho township is strongly Republican ; of two hundred and si.xty votes, one hundred and sixty are given to tho dominant party. Pike had no post-olRco until 1855, when John Croft received an appointmont under Pierce's administration, and showod his gratitude by bestowing tho appointor's name upon the ofEoo.

During the war Pike Township was always ahead of her quota, and never sent a drafted man lo tho field. Of two hundred and forty-eight voters in 18112, one hundred nnd forty wero in the array. While tho ono hundred days' men woro out tho township wos stripped of men.

It may be intcresling to some to know that Rov. Ilolloway, Methodist, organized Pike's first Sunday-school in the old log church. Jacob Miller woa tbe first leader of olosa. John Miller was the first oon version, and for twenty or more years was class-leader in tho church.

The first session of common schools was held on March 14, 1363. Seven monlha' loboolB were voted, "and a self-imposed taxalion of half a mill on tho dollar for thoir support.

Pitney Guest was justice of the peace, July 22, 1815, and Abraham Sheplar township olerk. Tho first recorded election took place April 1, 1816, but a prior election bad been held, since the township was organized from a part of Canton Township, on Maroh 6, 1815, and the first election ordered to be hold at the house of Henry Bordnor.

The second election, held at William Rider's, resulted in Abram Tant and Amos Ginney for trusteei; Bazil Thompson, treasurer; James Chapin and John Shult, supervisors; Harmon Vandorslan and William Eckler, listers; Henry Mills and George Allman, ooustablea; Jacob Anspaugh and Mathow Brothers, fence-viewers; and John Sherman and Henry Bordner, overseers of the poor.

MEN OP PIKE WHO DIED FOIl THE UNION. B. T. Sleiner, captain Co. D, l()7tb, shot at Gettysburg. Jeremiah Holm, orderly sergeant Co. Q, 107th, killed at Qottysburg. William Hickman, aorgennt Co. D, 107th, died at Washington. George Reedy and William Holm, missing at Chanoollorsvillo, and never heard of,

Leonard Shroger, of tho 4th, Jacob Crawford, 20th battery, Jacob An, Mobcb Darr, David Tant, Henry Clark, Miobael Kiefor, Rcore Keel. Fifteen mon in all.