Rarden Township

Rarden Township

The youngest of all the townships was organized from a portion of Brush Creek, January 10, 1891, and contains 19,688 acres, ranking ninth in area outside of Wayne. Although the last organized, it received its first inhabitants shortly after 1800. Among those who settled on Rarden Creek were John Smith, James and Oliver Jones, Charles Ross, Isaac Gifford, John and Matthew Williams and Enos Mustard. Among those on Mt. Joy were: Willis Bull. Nathaniel Newman, Hugh Brown, Johathan Boyd and James Scott. On Dunlap were: Isaac Newman, Benjamin and Joseph Walker. The first settler to take up land near the town of Rarden, was Jesse Edwards. His brother came at the same time and Christopher Newman settled near the line in Adams County. Others who settled in and about Rarden were: William and Thomas Thompson Thornton Kendall. John McCann, Joshua Armstrong, Paul K. Stewart, Thomas Rarden, Thomas Brown, Aaron Armstrong, James Nelson and Shelton Kendall.

Rarden Township is bounded on the north by Pike County, on the east by Morgan and Brush Creek, on the south by Brush Creek, and on the west by Adams County. No changes of any consequence have been made in the boundary since its organization. The assessed value of its personal property in 1900 was $61,798, and it ranked 10th; value of real estate, $80,470; rank 15th; the total valuation of property of all kinds was $142,268, and its rank was 14th.

It is watered by Brush Creek which enters from Adams County and crosses the southwest corner, and by its tributaries: Rarden Creek which rises in the northern part of the township and joins Brush Creek west of Rarden; Dunlap, which flows from the southwestern part and joins Brush Creek at Rarden; Dry Run, which courses along just west of the southeastern boundary and joins Brush Creek near Young. Besides these there are numerous other small affluents.

The surface is very much broken and much of it is very stony. The northeastern portion known as Mt. Joy, is a high table land of about 2,000 acres, well situated for agricultural purposes. The soil is rather gravelly and of average fertility. Large quantities of corn, wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, etc., are raised. This region is admirably adapted to fruit growing and the annual crop is very large. Being high and dry, it is well fitted for stock raising, especially for sheep raising. In the southern end of the township is another region similar to the Mt. Joy region, much smaller in extent, but similar in most other respects.

There are many small, narrow valleys that are farmed and would probably produce well if properly cared for and improved; but the most productive portion of this township lies along Brush Creek and extends throughout its course through the township. It is from a quarter to a half a mile in width. Many of the slopes of this valley are farmed also. Much of the valley is flooded each year, and where the current is not too swift, a liberal deposit of sediment is left to enrich the land. This valley produces well in cereals and tobacco.

Prior to 1850, there seems to have been but little progress among the inhabitants of all the region west of the Scioto Valley. In fact if we are to be- lieve the stories told us by persons who lived in this section at that time, and by persons who travelled through it, there must have been a decided retrograde. The country was one vast expanse of forest with foot paths and bridle paths leading through it. Small farms were cleared up here and there and log cabins housed the inhabitants. Churches and schools were very scarce; yet there were a few log school houses prior to 1830. A "dirt road" lead from northern Adams County and southern Highland County down Brush Creek to Portsmouth which was the nearest market for this region. Over this road, since converted into a turnpike, were hauled great loads. of corn, wheat, and other farm prducts from Adams and Highland Counties in the large old fashioned wagons, pulled by four strong horses. This farm produce was exchanged at Portsmouth for groceries, dry goods and the thousand and one things that add to the comfort of man, and these articles were taken back to stock up the country stores and to be used by the farmers and tradesmen. Prom northern Adams County to Portsmouth was two days' travel and at Moses Freeman's brick farm house on the site of Otway was the middle point and stopping place for the night.

When the early settlers from Pennsylvania began coming into this region along in the forties, they found a people, who, partly from their isolation, and partly from necessity, had adopted primitive ways of living and had patterned much after the Indians, in their mode of dress. They farmed in a way wore moccasins of buckskin, and hunting shirts, such as the Indians had worn. They carried their rifles with them when they went abroad, that they might take a shot at any game they might see. Whiskey was sold at houses here and there and on special occasions a crowd of natives would collect in on horseback from the surrounding .country and after a thorough carousal, would gallop off together yelling and howling like a mob of Indians. For all these peculiar traits the Pennsylvanians called them "Pottawattomies," and the region about Rarden they called "Moccasin." Progress in this region was slow until the advent of the railroad, which opened up its resources and gave opportunity for mingling with the outside world. With the railroad, came saloons, and following saloons, as a natural sequence, came fights and drunken brawls in which a large number of fatalities occurred.

The past fifteen years have witnessed the disappearance of much of this eruptive influence. The people have entered upon a life of real progress, and to one who had travelled in this country fifty years ago and had beheld the rude manners and customs, it would seem that the day of miracles had not yet passed. He would gaze upon a country all but stripped of its wealth of timber, the. destruction of which gave employment to its people and added comfort to their homes, and all the tillable portion converted into productive and well kept farms. He would see its small settlements grown to good sized villages alive with enterprise and industry. He would contemplate that of which the most optimistic had never dreamed, the lifting from its hills of their mighty blocks of stone to be transported to foreign parts and transformed into massive walls and beautiful homes for the abode of man, a great industry but now in its infancy and a Golconda for future capitalists.

The first officers of this township were: Trustees, S. S. Blosser, Milton Mustard and William Keese; Clerk, D. A. Gardner; Treasurer, William Newman; Constables, William M. Burnett and William Hackworth; Justices of the Peace, A. B. McBride and J. N. Kates; Assessor, T. F. Freeman. The present officers, 1902, are; Trustees, Martin B. Wharff, T. S. Riley and Charles Freeman; Clerk, George B Coakly; Treasurer, D. T. Blackburn; Constable, John W. Newman; Assessor, William J. Thompson; Justices of the Peace, J. N. Kates and O. E. Foster.

As above stated this place was given the name of "Moccasin" by the early Pennsylvania settlers. It is located on the north side of the Brush Creek Valley near where it receives the waters of Rarden and Dunlap Creeks, and about one and a half miles from the Adams County line. The first store was opened by Asa L. Williams about 1846. Later came Aaron Moore, William Brooks, Eli Rigdon and Philip Leighly. Orville Grant, brother of Ulysses S., Andrew Montgomery and Milton Morrison built a tanyard here before 1850. During the war they made cavalry saddles for the government. Grant and Williams became the owners, about 1865. After four or five years they sold to S. S. Jones, who operated it until 1878 when it was turned into a pump factory. It burned about 1885.

Orville Grant gave the place the name of -'Galena" for his former home in Galena, Illinois. This name was adopted when the first plat of the town was made October 10, 1850. This plat contained 12 acres, taken from surveys, 7,808, 2,850 and 2,345, owned by B. Edwards, Aaron Moore and the heirs of Jesse Edwards. There were forty-five lots in the plat numbered from 1 to 45. Four additions were made July 5, 1883: lots 46 and 49 to 59, by Thomas Newman; lots 47 and 48, by John Williams; lots 60 to 65, by E. D. L. Morgan; lots 66 to 73, by Grafton Windle. These additions aggregate a little over ten acres. On April 14, 1891, Amos and Ella Jenkins platted an addition containing 7 acres. The lots were numbered 74 to 79 and were part of Survey 7,808. The town was incorporated in 1886 and the first officers were Michael Freeman, Mayor; D. A. Gardner, Clerk; R. W. McNeal, Solicitor; and Scott Foster. Marshall. Its present officers are: J. J. Forsythe, Mayor; J. M. Wikoff. Clerk; D. T. Blackburn, Treasurer. The members of the council are- L. A. Scott, John W. Newman, Bert Scott, William Burnett, Clark W. Waller and F. W. Ballangee.

The assessed value of real estate in Rarden Corporation in 1900 was $20,990; personal property, $21,522; total, $42,512. The value of real estate in the Special School District outside of Rarden Corporation was $18,390; personal property, $10,064; total, $28,454.

The business is at present done by the following: L. Taylor, D. T. Blackburn & Son, William T. Hackworth. General Merchants; Bert Scott, Blacksmith; Ed. Abbott, Livery and Feed Stable; Sarah Abbott and Mrs. D. M. Stewart, Hotels; Doctors, J. H. Windle and H. F. Clark.

This is one of the representative' firms of stone industry of the county. Their quarries are located about one mile west of Rarden on the Norfolk and Western Railway, and are equipped with all the latest improved machinery for handling earth, quarrying and handling stone rapidly at a minimum expense. It uses a Barnhardt Steam Shovel and a large traveling crane designed by Kaltenbach and Greiss of Cleveland, in uncovering stone. It uses the Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company's steam drills and the Knox system of drilling and blasting in quarrying stone. Its machinery is so far perfected that it splits stone either with or across the grain, as evenly as wood.

The present capacity of the Company, while greatly hampered on account of the inability of the Railroad Company to furnish sufficient equipment to handle its output, is from fifteen to twenty thousand cubic yards per year.

The stone produced by this company quarried from two ledges sixty and sixty-six inches respectively, is a sand stone locally known as freestone, and is of a light buff color. It is used for building, paving and bridge purposes. It is free from iron or alkali, and does not disintegrate from extreme exposure.

The Company commenced business in 1895 and consisted of C. C., F. M. and C. W. Waller, who came to this county from Fairfield County, Ohio, where they had operated a sandstone quarry, and on finding a suitable location for a quarry interested Mr. L. Taylor in the enterprise, who purchased the land on which the quarry was located and with the Waller Brothers organized and incorporated The Rarden Stone Company in July, 1895.

The officers of the Company are: V. E. Taylor, President; C. W. Waller, Vice-president; F. M. Waller, Secretary; L. Taylor, Treasurer and C. C. Waller, Superintendent.

The success of the business since its organization has been remarkable. It has most encouraging prospects for the future and the management is fully able to take care of it.

The Taylor Stone Saw Mill, Rarden, Ohio

was the first quarry opened at Rarden about twelve years ago, and is now lying idle. It produces the same quality of stone as that of The Rarden Stone Company, and a great quantity of rough stone was formerly shipped from this quarry. It is owned by Abraham Forsythe.

are owned and operated by The Taylor Cooperage Company. These shops were established shortly after the railroad was built and were at first merely a stave mill owned by Guilford Marr. Later the manufacture of barrels was begun. During its existence it has been destroyed by fire and rebuilt three times. It has been very much enlarged and is the only establishment of the kind in the county. It manufactures all kinds of tight cooperage and its output is 40,000 packages, worth from $30,00 to $40,000 annually. L. Taylor and Charles S. Brown are owners and Mr. Brown is manager.

The first school house stood back of the Red Men's Hall and was built of logs. Another was built on the same spot and was burned in 1886. This year a two-story frame building was erected. There are four departments and the schools are among the best in the county.

The Rarden M. E. Church was begun in 1887 and completed in 1897. This church dates its organization back as far as 1820. The church cost $2,000. The minister is Rev. Phillips. The membership is 75 and average attendance at Sunday School is 70. The present trustees are: A. B. McBride, Charles C. Waller, Alex. Mullen, G. M. Wikoff and Charles S. Freeman.

The Rarden Christian Church was organized May 6, 1902, with 16 members and a Sunday School of 70. Its minister is Henry Canter. The congregation has not yet built an edifice but holds its meetings in the Red Men's Hall.

The region known as Mt. Joy received its name for Thomas Mt. Joy, an early land speculator who located about 2,000 acres covering this locality. Mt. Joy never lived here, but iived near Maysville, Kentucky. He made yearly visits to collect his rents and to look after his land. The name is also applied to a small settlement in the north-eastern part of this tract at the head of Bear Creek. The post office has this name also, and O. E. Davis is postmaster. The business of this place is carried on by H. Adams & Son and O. E. Davis, general merchants.

formerly known as the Mt. Joy Fair, was inaugurated under the auspices of the Mt. Joy Farmers' Institute. The first fair was held August 26 and 27, 1895. Its first officers were W. A. McGeorge, President: D. T. Blackburn. Secretary and Treasurer and they have continued as such since. The name was changed the following year to the Tri-County Fair Association. The old Scioto County Agricultural Society having become disorganized, by application of the managing board, to the State Agricultural Board, this Association was recognized as the Scioto County Agricultural Society in 1899.

The United Presbyterian Church is about a quarter of a mile due west of Mt. Joy post office, and was built about 1855. Its first minister was Rev. Bonner. The church was once destroyed by fire hut was afterwards rebuilt. It formerly had a very large membership, but of late years it has only about forty, and services are conducted by Rev. Joseph C. Hamilton, of Peebles. The trustees are W. J. Shannon. M. L. Bonner and W. A. McGeorge.

The Christian Church. - This organization dates its existence from 1854. Meetings were first held in the Mt. Joy school house and Rev. Matthew Gardner was its first minister. In 1867 a log church was built, which is still standing and in use, but has been weather-boarded. It stands on west Mt. .Joy, about three miles from Rarden and the same distance from Mt. Joy. The first minister to preach in this church was Rev. John Shelton. Its members number 125 and its Sunday School has an average attendance of 50. Rev. Henry Canter is the pastor and David Day is Superintendent of the Sunday School.

The United Baptist Church, is known as the "Hackworth" church. The organization was effected about 1884 and a church was erected the following year on west Mt. Joy. The members number forty and the Sunday School averages about fifty. John Carry is Superintendent, Rev. Breech is the minister.

Harmon Christian Church, situated in the northwestern part of the township at the head of Rarden Creek, was built of logs about 1875 by an organization of Protestant Methodists. This organization ceased to exist about 1887 and by permission the Christian organization uses it. Its minister is John Q. Law. It has about 75 members and a Sunday School of 100.

bnited Baptist Church. - There are two organizations in the southern part of the township, one on Hoffer's Hill and one on Dunlap Creek. The former was organized in 1884 and the latter in 1901. They each have about forty members and a Sunday School of about 50. They hold their meetings in school houses and Rev. Breech is their minister.

When the township was taken from Brush Creek in 1891 the school districts were re-numbered. The first meeting of the board was held at the Dry Run school-house and Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 13 were represented. There are seven districts well distributed over the township and the term of school averages only three months and one-half yearly. The salary paid the teachers is uniform, each district paying $35 per month. There are 309 pupils enumerated in 1902. Sub-district No. 1 is on East Mt. Joy. No. 2 is on West Mt. Joy. No. 3 is up Rarden Creek. No. 4 is up Dunlap Creek and the house was built in 1899. No. 5 is on Hoffer's Hill, but was not used last year. A new house is being erected this year. No. 6 is up Rarden. No. 7 is southwest of Mt. Joy.

The only township cemetery is the one near what is known as the Log Church on West Mt. Joy. It is about three miles northeast of Rarden and contains one-half an acre, a part of the James M. Scott farm. It is a commanding spot, high above the surrounding country, from which, in summer, the succession of green hills melt away in the distance enwrapt in a misty haze. In this spot and in the one on East Mt. Joy rest the mortal remains of more soldiers of the civil war than are found in all the other cemeteries in Brush Creek and Rarden Townships.

The Newman Cemetery situated about one and a half miles west of Rarden in Adams County is one of the oldest burial grounds in this locality. It was made a joint cemetery in 1899. Franklin Township, in Adams County, and this township each pay half the expense of keeping it in condition. It contains two acres and was formerly a part of Garrett Newman's farm. A number of the early pioneers are buried here.

Besides the above named cemeteries there is one on Mt. Joy which contains the remains of many of the earliest settlers. A new cemetery has recently been opened on Hoffer's Hill.

Source changes here: from History of Scioto County, Ohio, Together with a Pioneer Record of Southern Ohio, by Nelson W. Evans A.m, published 1903; 3,205 words in this source stream.

Rarden Township

The youngest of all the townships was org2nized from 2 portion of Brush Creek, January if, 1891, and contains 19,688 acres. ranking ninth in area oui side of Wayne. Although the last organized, it received its first inhabitants shortly after 186. Among those who settled on Rarden Creek were John Smith, James and Oliver Jones, Charles Ross, Isaac Gifford, John and Matthew Williams and Enos Mustard. Among those on Mt Joy were: Willis Ball Nathaniel Newman, Hugh Brown, Jonathan Boyd and James Scott On Dunlap were: Isaac Newman, Benjamin and Joseph Walker. The first setiler to take up land near the town of Rarden. was Jesse Edwards. His brother came at the same time and Christopher Newman settled near the line in Adams County. Others who setiled in and about Rarden were: William and Thomas Thompson_ Thornton Kendall. John McCann, Joshua Armstrong. Panl K. Siewari, Thomas Rarden, Thomas Brown. Aaron Armsirong, James Nelson and Shelton Kendall.

Rarden Township is bounded on the north by Pike County. on the easi by Morgan and Brush Creek, on the south by Brush Creek, and on the west by Adams County. No changes of any consequence have been made in dhe boundary since its organization. The assessed walue of its personal properiy im 1900 was $61,798, and it ranked 10th: value of real estate, $80470; rank 15ih; the total valuation of property of all kinds was $142.268, and its rank was 14th.

It is watered by Brush Creek which enters from Adams County and crosses the southwest corner, and by its tributaries: Rarden Creek which rises m the northern part of the township and joins Brush Creek wesi of Rarden; Dunlap. which fiows from the southwestern part and joins Brush Creek at Rarden; Dry Run, which courses along just west of the southeastern boundary and joins Brush Creek near Young JBesides these there are numerous other small affinents.

The surface is very much broken and much of it is very stony. The northeastern portion known as Mi. Joy, is a high table land of about 2,000 acres, well situated for agriculiural purposes. The soil is rather sravelly and of average fertility. Large quantities of corn, wheat, oais, hay. poiaioes, cic, are raised. This region is admirably adapied to fruit growing and the annual crop is very large. Being high and dry, it is well fitted for stock raising, especially for sheep raising. In the southern end of the township is another region similar io the Mt. Joy region. much smaller in extent, but similar in most other respects. Be ;

There are many small, narrow valleys that are farmed and would probably produce well if properly cared for and improved; but the most produc - 'éve portion of this township lies along Brash Creek and extends throughout its course through the township. It is from a quarier to a half a mile mm width. Many of the slopes of this valley are farmed also. Much of the valley _ is flooded each year, and where the current is noi too swift, a liberal depositof sediment is left to enrich the land. This valley produces well in cereals and tobacco. " Y ' Progress and Development. Prior to 1850, there seems to have been but litile progress among the inhabitanis of all the region west of the Scioto Valley. Im fact if we are io be- lieve the stories told us by persons who lived in this section at that time, and by persons who travelled through it, there must have been a decided retrograde. The country was one vast expanse of forest with foot paths and bridle paths leading through it. Small farms were cleared up here and there and log cabins housed the inhabitants. Churches and schools were very scarce; yet there were a few log school houses prior to 1830. A "dirt road' lead from northern Adams County and southern Highland County down Brush Creek to Portsmouth which was the nearest market for this region. Over this road, since converted into a turnpike, were hauled great loads of corn, wheat, and other farm prducts from Adams and Highland Counties in the large old fashioned wagons, pulled by four strong horses.» This farm produce was exchanged at Portsmouth for groceries, dry goods and the thousand and one things that add to the comfort of man, and these articles were taken back to stock up the country stores and to be used by the farmers and tradesmen. From northern Adams County to Portsmouth was two days' travel and at Moses Freeman's brick farm house on the site of Otway was the middle point and stopping place for the night.

When the early settlers from Pennsylvania began coming into this region along in the forties, they found a people, who, partly from their isolation, and partly from necessity, had adopted primitive ways of living and had patterned much after the Indians, in their mode of dress. They farmed in a way and hunted much more, getting much of their living in this way. The men wore moccasins of buckskin, and hunting shirts, such as the Indians had worn. They carried their rifles with them when they went abroad, that they might take a shot at any game they might see. Whiskey was sold at houses here and there and on special occasions a crowd of natives would collect in on horseback from the surrounding country and after a thorough carousal, would gallop off together yelling and howling like a mob of Indians. For all these peculiar traits the Pennsylvanians called them '"Pottawattomies,' and the region about Rarden they called ''Moccasin." Progress in this region was. slow until the advent of the railroad; which opened up its resources and gave opportunity for mingling with the outside world. With the railroad, came saloons, and following saloons, as a natural. sequence, came fights and drunken brawls in which a large number of fatalities occurred.

The past fifteen years have witnessed the disappearance of much of this eruptive influence. The people have entered upon a life of real progress, and to one who had travelled in this country fifty years ago and had beheld the rude manners and customs, it would seem that the day of miracles had not yet passed. He would gaze upon a country all but stripped of its wealth of timber, the destruction of which gave employment to its people and added comfort to their homes, and all the tillable portion converted into productive and well kept farms. He would see its small settlements grown to good sized villages alive with enterprise and industry. He would contemplate that of which the most optimistic had never dreamed, the lifting from its hills of their mighty blocks of stone to be transported to foreign parts and transformed into massive walls and beautiful homes for the abode of man, a great industry but now in its infancy and a Golconda for future capitalists.

The first officers of this township were: Trustees, S. S. Blosser, Milton Mustard and William Keese; Clerk, D. A. Gardner; Treasurer, William Newman; Constables, William M. Burnett and William Hackworth; Justices of the Peace, 'A. B. McBride and J. N. Kates; Assessor, T. F. Freeman. The present officers, 1902, are: Trustees, Martin B. Wharff, T. S. Riley and Charles Freeman; Clerk, George B Coakly; Treasurer, D. T. Blackburn; Constable, John W. Newman; Assessor, William J. Thompson; Justices of the Peace, J. N. Kates and O. E. Foster.

As above stated this place was given the name of 'Moccasin' by the early Pennsylvania settlers. It is located on the north side of the Brush Creek Valley near where it receives the waters of Rarden and Dunlap Creeks, and about one and a half miles from the Adams County line. The first store was opened by Asa L. Williams about 1846. Later came Aaron Moore, William Brooks, Eli Rigdon and Philip Leighly. Orville Grant, brother of Ulysses S., Andrew Montgomery and Milton Morrison built a tanyard here before 1850. During the war they made cavalry saddles for the government. Grant and Williams became the owners, about 1865. After four or five years they sold to 8. 8. Jones, who operated it until 1878 when it was turned into a pump factory. It burned about 1885.

Orville Grant gave the place the name of "Galena" for his former home in Galena, Illinois. This name was adopted when the first plat of the town was made October 10, 1850. This plat contained 12 acres, taken from surveys, 7,808, 2,850 and 2,345, owned by B. Edwards, Aaron Moore and the heirs of Jesse Edwards. There were forty-five lots in the plat numbered from 1 to 45. Four additions were made July 5, 1888: lots 46 and 49 to 59, by Thomas Newman; lots 47 and 48, by John Williams; lots 60 to 65, by E. D. L. Morgan; lots 66 to 78, by Grafton Windle. These additions aggregate a little over ten acres. On April 14, 1891, Amos and Ella Jenkins platted an addition containing 7 acres. The lots were numbered 74 to 79 and were part of Survey 7,808. The town was incorporated in 1886 and the first officers were Michael Freeman, Mayor; D. A. Gardner, Clerk; R. W. McNeal, Solicitor; and Scott Foster, Marshall. Its present officers are: J. J. Forsythe, Mayor; J. M. Wikoff, Clerk; D. T. Blackburn, Treasurer. The members of the council are: L. A. Scott, John W. Newman, Bert Scott, William Burnett, Clark W. Waller and F. W. Ballangee.

The assessed value of real estate in Rarden Corporation in 1900 was $20,990; personal property, $21,522; total, $42,512. The value of real estate in the Special School District outside of Rarden Corporation was $18,390; personal property, $10,064; total, $28,454.

The business is at present done by the following: L. Taylor, D. T. Blackburn & Son, William T. Hackworth,. Genéral Merchants; Bert Scott, Blacksmith; Ed. Abbott, Livery and Feed Stable; Sarah Abbott and Mrs. D. M. Stewart, Hotels; Doctors, J. H. Windle and H. F. Clark.

This is one of the representative firms of stone industry of the county. . Their quarries are located about one mile west of Rarden on the Norfolk and Western Railway, and are equipped with all the latest improved machinery for handling earth, quarrying and handling stone rapidly at a minimum expense. It uses a Barnhardt Steam Shovel and a large traveling crane designed by Kaltenbach and Greiss of Cleveland, in uncovering stone. It uses the Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company's steam drills and the. Knox system of drilling and blasting in quarrying stone. Its machinery is so far perfected that it splits stone either with or across the grain, as evenly as wood.

The present capacity of the Company, while greatly hampered on account of the inability of the Railroad Company to furnish sufficient equipment to handle its output, is from fifteen to twenty thousand cubic yards per year.

The stone produced by this company quarried from two ledges sixty and sixty-six inches respectively, is a sand stone locally known as freestone, and is of a light buff color. It is used for building, paving and bridge purposes. It is free from iron or alkali, and does not disintegrate from extreme exposure.

The Company commenced business in 1895 and consisted of C. C., F. M. and G. W. Waller, who came to this county from Fairfield County, Ohio, where they had operated a sandstone quarry, and on finding a suitable location for a quarry interested Mr. L. Taylor in the enterprise, who purchased the land on which the quarry was located and with the Waller Brothers organized and incorporated The Rarden Stone Company in July, 1895.

The officers of the Company are: V. E. Taylor, President; Cc. W. Waller, Vice-president; F. M. Waller, Secretary; L. Taylor, Treasurer and C. C. Waller, Superintendent.

The success of the business since its organization has been remarkable. It has most encouraging prospects for the future and the management is fully able to take care of it, : was the first quarry opened at Rarden about twelve years ago, and is now lying idle. It produces the same quality of stone as that of The Rarden Stone Company, and a great quantity of rough stone was formerly shipped from this quarry. It is owned by Abraham Forsythe.

are owned and operated by The Taylor Cooperage Company. These shops were established shortly after the railroad was built and were at first merely a stave mill owned by Guilford Marr. Later the manufacture of barrels was begun. During its existence it has been destroyed by fire and rebuilt three times. It has been very much enlarged and is the only establishment of the kind in the county. It manufactures all kinds of tight cooperage and its output is 40,000 packages, worth from $30,00 to $40,000 annually. L. Taylor' and Charles S8. Brown are owners and Mr. Brown is manager.

The first school house stood back of the Red Men's Hall and was built of logs. Another was built on the same spot and was burned in 1886. This year a two-story frame building was erected.' There are four departments and the schools are among the best in the county.

The Rarden M. E. Church was begun in 1887 and completed in 1897. This church dates its organization back as far as 1820. The church cost $2,000. The minister is Rev. Phillips. The mémbership is 75 and average attendance at Sunday School is 70. The present trustees are: A. B. McBride, Charles C. Waller, Alex. Mullen, G. M. Wikoff and Charles S. Freeman.

The Rarden Christian Church was organized May 6, 1902, with 16 members and a Sunday School of 70. Its minister is Henry Canter. The congregation has not yet built an edifice but holds its meetings in the Red Men's Hall.

The region known as Mt. Joy received its name for Thomas Mt. Joy, an early land speculator who located about 2,000 acres covering this locality. Mt. Joy never lived here, but lived near Maysville, Kentucky. He made yearly visits to collect his rents and to look after his land. The name is also applied to a small settlement in the north-eastern part of this tract at the head of Bear Creek. The post office has this name also, and O. E. Davis is postmaster. The business of this place is carried on by H. Adams & Son and O. E. Davis, general merchants.

formerly known as the Mt. Joy Fair, was inaugurated under the auspices of the Mt. Joy Farmers' Institute. The first fair was held August 26 and 27, 1895. Its first officers were W. A. McGeorge, President; D. T. Blackburn, Secretary and Treasurer and they have continued as such since. The name was changed the following year to the Tri-County Fair Association. The old Scioto County Agricultural Society having become disorganized, by application of the managing board, to the State Agricultural Board, this Association was recognized as the Scioto County Agricultural Society in 1899.

The United Presbyterian Church is about a quarter of a mile due west of Mt. Joy post office, and was built about 1855. Its first minister was Rev. Bonner. The church was once destroyed by fire but was afterwards rebuilt. It formerly had a very large membership, but of late years it has only about forty, and services are conducted by Rev. Joseph C. Hamilton, of Peebles. The trustees are W. J. Shannon, M. L. Bonner and W. A. McGeorge.

The Christian Church. - This organization dates its existence from 1854. Meetings were first held in the Mt. Joy school house and Rev. Matthew Gardner was its first minister. In 1867 a log church was built, which is still standing and in use, but has been weather-boarded. It-stands on west Mt. Joy, about three miles from Rarden and the same distance from Mt. Joy. The first minister to preach in this church was Rev. John Shelton. Its members number 125 and its Sunday School has an average attendance of 50. Rey. paced Canter is the pastor and David Day is Superintendent of the Sunday School

The United Baptist Church, is known as the "Hackworth" church. The organization was effected about 1884 and a 'churéh was erected the following year on west Mt. Joy. The members number forty and the Sunday School averages about fifty. John Carry is Superintendent, Rey. Breech is the minister.

Harmon Christian Church, situated in the northwestern part of the township at the head of Rarden Creek, was built of logs about 1875 by an organization of Protestant Methodists. This organization ceased to exist about 1887 and by permission the Christian organization uses it. Its minister is John Q. Law. It has about 75 members and a Sunday School of 100.

United Baptist Church. - There are two organizations in the southern part of the township, one on Hoffer's Hill and one on Dunlap Creek. The former was organized in 1884 and the latter in 1901. They each have about forty members and a Sunday School of about 50. They hold their meetings in school houses and Rey. Breech is their minister.

When the township was taken from Brush Creek in 1891 the school districts were re-numbered. The first meeting of the board was held at the Dry Run school-house and Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 13 were represented. There are seven districts well distributed over the township and the term of school averages only three months and one-half yearly. The salary paid the teachers is uniform, each district paying $35 per month. There are 309 pupils enumerated in 1902. Sub-district No. 1 is on East Mt. Joy. No. 2 is on West Mt. Joy. No. 3 is up Rarden Creek. No. 4 is up Dunlap Creek and the house was built in 1899. No. 5 is on Hoffer's Hill, but was not used last year. A new house is being erected this year. No. 6 is up Rarden. No. 7 is southwest of Mt. Joy.

The only township cemetery is the one near what is known as the Log Church on West Mt. Joy. It is about three miles northeast of Rarden and contains one-half an acre, a part of the James M. Scott farm. It is a commanding spot, high above the surrounding country, from which, in summer, the succession of green hills melt away in the distance enwrapt in a misty haze. In this spot and in the one on East Mt. Joy rest the mortal remains of more soldiers of the civil war than are found in all the other cemeteries in Brush Creek and Rarden Townships.

The Newman Cemetery situated about one and a half miles west of Rarden in Adams County is one of the oldest burial grounds in this locality. It was made a joint cemetery in 1899. Franklin Township, in Adams County, and this township each pay half the expense of keeping it in condition. It contains two acres and was formerly a part of Garrett Newman's farm. A number of the early pioneers are buried here.

Besides the above named cemeteries there is one on Mt. Joy which contains the remains of many of the earliest settlers. A new cemetery has recently been opened on Hoffer's Hill.