Springfield Township
The complete chapter on this township from 1794. History of Muskingum County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Pioneers, published in 1882. 5,718 words, covering 8 settlements.
Contents
14 sectionsThe section headings the book prints inside this chapter. Each one jumps to where it begins.
The modern record here
8 settlementsWhat the federal record holds for each settlement inside this township: wildfires and storm reports since the 1950s, mineral workings, and museum specimens collected nearby. These are counted within a few miles of each settlement, so neighbours share them and the columns are deliberately not added up. Every row links to the settlement's own page, where each figure is broken out.
| Settlement | Fires | Storm reports | Mines and quarries | Specimens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye | 28 | - | 6 | 749 |
| Fairview | 31 | - | 6 | 727 |
| Maysville | 32 | - | 9 | 713 |
| Meadow Farm | 26 | - | 5 | 562 |
| Russells | 47 | - | 6 | 752 |
| South Zanesville | 37 | 7 | 6 | 790 |
| Westwood | 45 | - | 6 | 749 |
| Zanesville Terrace | 31 | - | 9 | 714 |
Settlements in this township
8 placesEvery populated place the Geographic Names Information System records inside this township's Census boundary. 0 of the 8 are named in the chapter; the rest were founded later or were never more than a post office.
The chapter
5,718 wordsReproduced complete and unedited. The text is machine-read from a scan of the 1882 printing, so expect the errors a machine makes reading a century-old page: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters. Nothing has been corrected, because correcting a proper name invents one. The headings below are the book's own.
Of Stock
This township was formerly a part of Newton township. The first election under the new name was held at David Harvey's tavern, in Zanestown, June 21, 1803, when the following officers were elected:
The next meeting was. called by the County Commissioners, at the house of Thomas Douden, in Springfield, April 1, 1805. Levi Whipple was Chairman ; Samuel Scott and Alexander McCoy, were the Judges of the election.
The first meeting of the electors of Springfield, was convened by order of the County Commissioners, at the house of William Burnham, in the village ot Springfield, April 3, 1809; at which meeting, Isaac Van Horne was Chairman ; Isaac Minshall and Samuel Beach were chosen Judges, and Levi Whipple, Clerk. The result was as follows :
No account of the election of a Justice of the Peace has been found, but March 11, 1809, the following entry in the township record appears:
'¢The Trustees met agreeably to adjournment, and settled the account of Levi Whipple on his docket, as per fines assessed since last settlement." '
July 1, 1809, ''William H. Moore, Esq., produced his commission as a Justice of the Peace, to Levi Whipple, Town Clerk, and was qualified to that office by Abel Lewis, Clerk of Muskingum County, June 20, 1809."
The original boundary of the township was as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Licking river, on the south side ; thence, up said river, to a point where it intersects the ''base or military line ;"' thence, west, along said line, six miles from the place of beginning (bounded on the north by Falls township and a small portion of Hopewell township); thence, south, three and three-quarter miles (bounded en the west by Hopewell and a small portion of Newton township); thence, east, six miles, south one-half mile, and east one mile, to the Muskingum river (being bounded on the south by Newton and a small portion of Brush Creek township) ; thence, up the Muskingum river, to the place of beginning.
The surface of this township is generally rolling, with beautiful and fertile valleys along the streams. The soil of the valleys is denominated a Sandy loam, with a clay subsoil, in general, and well adapted tu produce wheat, corn, oats, rye, Clover, timothy and other g.asses, and vegetables. The slopes and uplands are well adapted to horticulture.
The topographical features, now so much admired, had a special attraction in an early day, also, for the red man, who found the gently sloping hills and tortuous valleys peculiarly fitted for the haunts of game, and possesséd of a weird charm, for their nomadic habits and fancies. And the pioneer white man was lured hither by ~ the abundance of game, of which the elk was king of the forest, and, on that account, the French traders at Detroit named this region the hunters, was transposed into Moose-kingdom, and thence, corrupted into Muskingum - vide Loskiel. This is corroborated to this day, by the existence of such succulent grasses and plants as the moose-deer is known to be particularly fond of; and also, in conjunction, the abundance of small streams of pure water, making it a Paradise for such animals.
Among the noted water courses, are Thompson's run and its tributaries, permeating the northwest portion, and passing out about the center of the south boundary, into Newton township, and subsequently emptying into Jonathan's creek - so called, because Jonathan Zane, being lost, camped on that stream, near its mouth, and which his friends named ''Jonathan's creek,"' to commemorate the event.
Shawnee run rises in the western portion of section fourteen, runs three miles in a southeasterly direction, and empties into Jonathan's creek.
Early in the spring of 1799, David Stokely came up the Muskingum river, and, resolving to make his home on the Congress land that embraced the present site of Putnam, built his cabin near the site of the Putnam foundry, and prepared a small field, in which he planted and cultivated corn. When the corn was ''laid by," he returned to his late residence, and on the third of July, of that year, married Miss Abigail Hurlbut, and, on the sixth day, introduced his ' bride to her new domicile, they having made the trip through the trackless forest in three days - she on horseback, with her trousseau, and he on foot. Among her first duties in putting her house in order, was grubbing the small stumps from the earth floor, that it might become smooth by use. This being completed, two stakes were driven into the ground, near the wall, in a corner, and a few cross sticks added, on which rushes were laid, and the primitive bed was made; and doubtless was a source of comfort, where, 'mid the visions of ''love's young dreams,' they wooed the goddess of happiness, with ''none to molest or make them afraid."
Mr. Stokely continued to occupy the premises with his wife, until the lands were sold, when, being unable to purchase so large a tract, it was bought by Dr. Increase Mathews, who associated with him his cousin, as elsewhere related. These gentlemen permitted him to remain on the land three years longer, as a compensation for the clearing he had done. Much of the town site was cleared by Stokely and George Mathews. In 1805, Mr. Stokely removed to a place south of
Dr. J. Rodman, William Hibbs, John Fogles, and Cornelius Kirk, between 1806 and 1810, settled near together. Jacob Reese settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Solo-
Chronological
~mon Reese. In: 1807, he built a hewed log house - quite a fine home for those days - and in 1815, erected a frame barn, the first in the township. Jacob Reese is remembered as a consistent Christian. He died in 1863, aged eightyseven years. CHRONOLOGICAL.
The details of many events that follow, being, unfortunately, very brief, their chronological order, rather than a classified arrangement, will be followed.
The First Grist Mill
The first grist mill was inaugurated in the summer of 1799, by John and George Mathews, and situated on a platform supported by two boats, so adjusted as to support a wheel between them, and moored where the water ran swiftest, and was thus furnished with water power for grinding. It was generally anchored a short distance above what was, and is, the west end of Putnam bridge. '*Once upon atime;'' when the river was high, the waters captured this mill and took it down the stream as far as Taylorsville, but it was afterwards brought back, and tradition further says, rendered efficient service.
The First Saw Mill
The Spring Hill Company, December Ist, 1801, by contract with John Sharp, built a saw mill, with one upright saw, which wasrun by the long paddle wheel. A peculiarity of the contract, said to be customary in '' ye olden time," was that the builder was to be furnished with three gills of whiskey each day, until the work was finished.
Levi Whipple built a saw mill in 1802, and in 1804, built a flour mill, just above the site now occupied by the woolen mill. These mills stood near together, and were destroyed when the bridge burned in 1845. Mr. hipple was a public spirited, christian gentleman ; his name 1s associated with the public enterprises and acts of benevolence of his time.
The one known as the Levi Whipple Ftour Mill, in Putnam, was built by the Spring Hill Company, in 1803. By the division of property in 1806, it passed into the hands of Levi Whip- ple. it was an undershot water wheel power, one stone, at first. This being before the Muskingum Improvement, Mr. Whipple was obliged to build a wing dam, and keep it in repair; and according to the rules governing in such matters, he was not allowed to build it so high that it would hold the water back and interfere with other mills, yet to get the proper amount of water, this was often done, and as often by the owners of the mills above. '' The Jackson" and '' Granger Mills," would send men over and punch holes in his dam and let the water out. Mr. Whipple operated this mill until about 1820, when he sold it to Joseph R. Thomas, who, about 1843, sold it to Beaumont & Hollingsworth, and it was burned in May, 1845.
The mills of to-day have so little in common with those of which we have just spoken, that the miller of our time may well be considered a scientist of the highest order, as compared with such men as John and George Mathews, with their floating mill of 1799. The miller of to-day must not only bea machinist, comprehending the specific purposes of machinery, but with the skill of the manufacturer, he must be able to repair any defect or loss by wear, that may occur, and keep the mill in running order; which argues a high state of skill, as perhaps no class of machinery has undergone more changes than those used in milling, certainly within the last fifty years. 'This requirment involves a practical application of chemistry, too, that per se necessitates a clear comprehension of the principles involved, in order to secure success; and again, the form and composition of a single grain of wheat is also a matter of importance, that a proper discrimination may be had, to separate the different qualities, and convert them into the flour they are adapted to making. Some parts of the wheat, also, are only fit for feed, while others yield the highest grade of flour. That these qualifications were attained by the inventor of the present improved machinery, of course, will not be questioned; and it is perhaps owing to the mastery of the principles by the inventor, that the necessity of at least as high a qualification on the part of the miller exists. For example: Before the introduction of the '*new process of making flour, it was thought only grind it fine, and also make as few middlings as possible ; separate the flour, middlings and bran, by bolting, re-grind the middlings, together with all the impurities, such as fine bran, germ of the wheat, dust and fuzz from the crease in the wheat grain and its fuzz ends, the whole ground up, making a low grade of flour, and, consequently, the whole life was killed by too close grinding, and, of course, resulting ima flour that almost invariably made heavy bread. The exceeding fine grinding destroyed the cells in the wheat, and thus destroyed the rising quality. The new process demonstrates that the best flour is included in the middlings, which, in the old way, was made into the lowest grade, because mixed with the impurities, as described above. To purify the middlings, therefore, challenged inventive talent of the highest order, since the machine must produce a mechanical and chemical 'result.. This demand has been met by a multitude of devices, so. that the miller finds himself their various advantages. Among these, the blast or suction of wind from a revolving fan, nd the size of mesh in the bolting cloth, which separates the fine particles of bran, fluff and other impurities from the middlings, leaving them sharp, resembling pure white sand, is in use. From the middlings thus purified, the flour so much prized by all who have used what is known as patent flour is made; grinding it with buhrs, and bolting through fine cloth. The use of the purifier is a change for the better, also, by allowing the miller to grind higher, as he terms it, i. e., with the stones at a greater distance apart, without fear of losing in yield, and increasing the proportion of low grade flour; and thus, too, avoiding the danger of getting just. a little too close in grinding, which, as we have seen, destroys the cells in the wheat, rendering it unfit for bread. It is found that the higher the grinding, the larger the quantum of middlings, of which the highest grade of patent flour is made, and the flour from the first bolting (wheat-flour, or clear flour) is more granular, whiter and better. But the high grinding produces a heavy bran, leaving too large a quantity of flour adhering to the bran, and hence the necessity of a machine to get it off.. Some grind the bran over on buhrs, and others use machines for knocking or threshing it off; but the most successful machine at present, seems to be the sharp corrugated roller; so arranged, that one roller goes faster than the other, and accomplishes the desired result. The brush-scourer, for cleaning wheat, is a superior device, in general use, but this article does not admit of giving the minutia of the numerous machines, as it is not intended to be cyclopedic.
The wheat heater, used to warm the wheat in cold weather, to a temperature known to facilitate grinding, is used to advantage, as manifestly frozen wheat would not yield good results. The speed of running, too, is important; formerly it was thought necessary to run four foot stones, from one hundred and eighty to two hundred and ten revolutions per minute, and. grind from twelve to eighteen bushels of wheat per hour; now the mills that have the best reputation only run from one$hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty-five revolutions per minute, and grind from four to six bushels per hour, to the run of stone; thus avoiding undue heating of the chops, and leaving the flour, when bolted, free from injury. by overheating, and retaining all the life peculiar to healthy, perfect grain, and therefore affording the highest amount of héalthy bread.
nine miles, to where it crosses Jonathan's Creek, in Newton township, and opened a public house, that for many years was known as '' Crooks' Tavern." were William Griffy,and Samuel Murdock. They made connection with the stages, on the road, from Wheeling to Chillicothe, a route that was in operation in 1817, by John S. Dugan.
In 1806, John Mathews built a large flouring mill, on Jonathan's Creek, about half a mile from where it empties into the Muskingum river. And about the same time he erected a saw mill, near by.
Distillery
In 1810, John Mathews erected a distillery, also, near by. He was assisted in the manufac-_ ture of whiskey by Ira Belknap. Mr. Mathews erected quite a number of dwellings, for the men in his employ; they were located near the mill, and the settlement was soon after known as '* Moxahala."' :
The first brick kiln, as near as can be ascertained, was located on the north side of the Cooper Mill Road, near the _ present Fair. Grounds, and was inaugurated by William Simmons, in 1807.
-Iy 1812, a number of Shawnee Indians camped near a large spring, which the pioneers called ''Shawnee,'"' from this circumstance. When these red men of the forest first appeared in this locality, the pale faces were suspicious, and fearful, lest their visit might mean a threatening danger ; but, as they manifested a friendly spirit, and offered for sale, or exchange, furs, moccasins, and trinkets, they were soon only regarded with curiosity ; many visiting their camp to gratify their desire to know what manner of people they were, and how they lived. How long they tarried, we are not informed.
McKendree M. E. Church is situated about four miles from the city, in a southwest direction. The society was organized about the year 1815. The first members were John Springer, and wife, Cornelius Springer, Philip Russell, and wife, Joseph Rodman, and family, John Johnson, Mrs. William Bisant, Widow Smith, Franklin Bisant, and wife, David Oliver, and wife. :
Huff, and wife; the following were members of the congregation: Richard Dickinson, and family, James Williams, and family, Robert Canon, and family.
Fine Wooled Sheep
' Dr. Increase Mathews was the first, in this township, to engage in growing fine wooled sheep. This was about 1820. start, in this stock, from Vermont, and was very successful, although he did not continue in the business many years. In 1843, he, in company with William Baldwin, of Putnam, employed Sanford Howard, to go to Massachusetts, and purchase short horned Durham cattle, male and female, also Herefords.
Mrs. Merriam, relict of Cyrus Merriam, and grand daughter of Gen'l. Rufus Putnam, narrates that her husband came to Springfield, when about twefty-one years old, and engaged in the mercantile business. He subsequently bought a fruit farm, about two miles southwest of town, about 1826, and resided there at.the time of his death, in November 1873. In 1828, he purchased a flock of sheep, from Dr. Mathews, and fora few years gave attention to wool growing.
The first farm implements were home* made, or nearly so. _Plows had wooden mould boards ; harrow teeth were made of wood; hay forks of the same, constituted by splitting the end of a piece of wood, adapted for a handle, and thus making two prongs which were smoothed and pointed. The first improvement in hay forks was made by blacksmiths, and was a notable event. This improvement, and the patent, or cast iron mould-board for plows, was brought into use in 1825. Harrow teeth were made of iron somewhat earlier, perhaps as early as 1810.
The Springfield Chapel
' ship, held meetings in a log house that had been used by Solomon Wylie as a dwelling. They first built on a piece of ground owned by Ligget Gray, and leased by Solomon Wylie, whose son,
Abraham, dubbed the meeting house ''Solomon's Temple," because his father was instrmental in organizing the society, and many of the old settlers - and younger ones, too, for that matter - continue to call it "The Temple," or ''Solomon's Temple." This edifice was built about the year 1835» and was a frame building, thirty by forty eet.
The first members were: Joseph Rodman and wife, Ligget Gray and wife, Samuel Johnson and wife, John Johnson and wife, John Springer and wife.
A Sabbath School was organized by this society, in1838, At that time there were twenty-five scholars ; at this time the average attendance is ninety. The present Superintendent is William Hibbs. The number of church members is about one hundred. Regular services and preaching every two weeks.
The National road, from Washington City, D. C., to St. Louis, Missouri, was built across the northeast corner of Springfield township, in 1828. Neil, Moore & Co., ''put a line of stages'' on this part of the road in 1831. William Lloyd was the first driver. -
Pataskala Mills
In the year 1830, Isaac Dillon erected a large mill in the northeastern part of the township, at the mouth of the Licking river, and called it the Pataskala Mill. It c@ntained one pair of buhrs, and the necessary additional machinery for the manufacture of wheat and buckwheat flour and corn meal. The mill has received important additions since that date, and does a large business.
Association For The Recovery Of Stolen
February 23d, 1833, Jacob Reese, Edward Rex, Anthony Smith, Samuel Seamans, and John Fogle. formed a society, under the name of the '¢ Springfield Association for the Recovery of
Thieves." They evidently regarded this as an important matter, which should be governed by fixed rules and regulations, for they adopted a constitution, with rules and regulations, for their government, in which the duties of the members and officers were specifically defined, and all with the evident intention of being not only law abiding, but, under the construction of the rights, privileges and duties of American citizenship, they were to enforce the laws insuring the safety of their property and the suppression of crime.
The constitution and by-laws were signed by Jacob Rees, President ; Edward Rex, Treasurer ; Anthony Smith, Samuel, Seamans, and John Fogle. ,
Section 3 of the constitution provides: 'Every member who shall go in pursuit of stolen horses, shall keep a regular account of all his routes and expenses. which accounts he shall hand to the Treasurer within ten days after his return.
Section 4 says: 'Any member being notified to goin pursuit of stolen horses, if he has not sufficient money by him, may borrow .any amount up to five dollars upon the credit of this company, and all such loans the society bind themselves to pay, and if, after paying his expenses, he shall have a balance left, he shall hand it over to the Treasurer, with his accounts, for settlement, and if, upon examination of the accounts, there shall still be a balance in favor of the company, he shall pay the same upon being demanded by the Treasurer, and if he shall refuse or neglect to pay the same, the Treasurer shall collect it by law, in the same manner as debts under five dollars are collected."
'*The Western Recorder" was the only paper ever published in Springfield township. This paper was published by Rev. Cornelius Springer, at his home - *tMeadow Farm'' - about six miles west of the City of Zanesville, July 18th, 1833. In 1845, Jt passed into the hands of A. II. Bassett, who removed it to Putnam, and continued to publish it until 1855, when it was tr ant ferred to the Methodist Protestant Church, being devoted to expounding the doctrines ma usages of that church. Mr. Bassett received for the establishment the sum of $1,250.
In September, 1855, the establishment was removed to Springfield, Clark county, Ohio. paper, from this time, was called the ''Western Methodist Protestant."". Mr. Bassett continued to edit and publish the paper until November, 1860, when, by act of the Convention of the church, held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the
In November, 1862, Dr. Brown was succeeded in the editorial be ara tt by Dennis B. Dorsey. Jr., who. in October, 1864, resigned, and was succeeded by John Scott. At the Gen- nia, in 1866, Church, and the Wesleyans was effected, under the name of the **Methodist Church," and the name of the paper was changed to that **Meéthodist: Recorder." At) a meeting' of the Board of Publication, at Springfield, in May, 1870, Mr. Scott tendered his resignation, to take effect September rst. 1870, and Alexander Clark was elected to succeed Hitea
Ata session of the General Conference, held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May, 1871, it Was decided to transfer the paper and 'the iho concern" to that place. The last issue of the
Dr. Clark discharged the duties of editor from September, 1871, till his death, in July, 1879, which occurred at the residence of Governor Colquitt, in Atlanta, Georgia. After the death of Dr, Clark, John Scott, D.D., was again chosen editor, which position he has continued to fill. - [George W. Barnett. |
The postoffice at Meadow Farm was at the printing office of the ''Western Recorder, ''about six miles west of the city of Zanesville, in 1839. Rev. C. Springer was appointed Postmaster. The office was discontinued in 1845.
Meadow Farm Church (Methodist Protestant) is situated about six miles southwest of the city of Zanesville, on land donated by Rev. Cornelius Springer. The society was organized in 1854. The first members were Rev. Cornelius Springer and wife, Joseph Rodman and family, John Springer and family, Jeremiah Springer and family, and Mrs. Ellen Wortman.
Rev. Cornelius Springer was born in Wilmington, Delaware, about the year 1793, and came to this township with his father, John Springer, in 1806. When a young man, he was converted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, soon after, became an itinerant preacher - perhaps in 1816. He continued in this work as long as he was able for duty, and died August 17th, 1875, inthe eighty-fourth year of his age. His career of public usefulness began in the school-room. When the division of the church took place, in 1829, he identified himself with the moiety known as the Methodist Protestants, and led off as editor and publisher of the ''Western Recorder," the organ of the church, an account of which as given elsewhere in this chapter.
Railroad
The Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville, subsequently the Cincinnati. and Muskingum Valley Railroad, was built across the east end of the township, in 1854. The leading citizens of Putnam were prominent contributors to the building of this road.
"Thett first organization not having sufficient means for building the road, it was mortgaged, and thus the money for building and equipping was raised. The mortyage was foreclosed and the road sold, at a great reduction - below cost. It is now leased to the Pennsylvania Company, and is under the control and management of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway Company.
Geological
The fine-grained sandstone (number thirteen, in the above section), is a very handsome, light blue stone, very evenly bedded, easily quarried, and has proven to be durable.
On the land of Perry Bolin, section six, in this township, a limonite ore, six inches thick, is found, at an elevation of fifty-four feet above the Putnam Hill limestone. This ore is taken to the Zanesville furnace. The following is an analy- 'sis by Prof. Wormley :
In Springfield township, the two seams of coal known as the two New Lexington coals (the upper of which is the equivalent of the great seam of southern Perry county), are almost constantly seen, in their proper horizons. They are worked in many places. They always hold the same position, relatively, to the Putnam Hill limestone. The original and typical Putnam Hill limestone is found in this township, and is easily examined in the dug-way just above the bridge of the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad. - [Geological Report, 1873, Vol. I, pp. 327-8.]
Clay. - ''Fire clay" is found on the lands of L. H. Dugan and others, near the city, and is gaining the reputation of being asuperior quality for lining capsules for foundry purposes. About - fourteen hundred tons are annually. hauled from Mr. Dugan's to the city. This clay is near the limestone, and both are taken out to good advantage, together. Other clay (potters' clay) of good quality is abundant, and extensively manufactured in this township.
- Iron. - Iron ore, from four to six inches thick, has been discovered in several localities, but has not been mined or worked. It may prove very valuable. About the year 1818, James Crosby - Jackson built an iron forge afew rods south of the south end of the lower bridge. They obtained pig-iron at Dillon's furnace, of Licking. They used horse power.
Blue limestone. - A_ stratum about four feet thick extends pretty generally over the township. It is a good building stone, and good lime is made of it.
| other cities by S. G. McBride, who is also engaged in the manufacture of granite monuments and tombstones. The stone used for the base of these structures being obtained in this township.
Military
The following are known to have served in the Revolutionary War: Captain Warner and Addison ; and the following in the Indian War, under General Anthony Wayne: William H. Moore, enlisted at Northumberland, PennsylVania, in Captain Cook's company, Rangers, April st, 1792, dischargéd at Greencastle, Pennsylvania, April 17th, 1795;.and Joseph Dorrah, enlisted in 1794, in Captain Bragg's company, Rangers.
In the War of 1812 - Colonel Edward. Tupper, William H. Moore, John Hempfield, Samuel «Simmons, William Manley, Ambrose Josselyn, and Quartermaster Horace Nye.
Company B, Seventy-eighth O. V. I., was raised in Putnam and vicenity, by Z. M. Chandler and G. F. Wiles. Z.M. Chandler was appointed Captain, G. F. Wiles First Lieutenant, and G. D. Munson, Second Lieutenant. Mr. Chandler resigned his position as Superintendent of the Public Schools of Putnam, to go into the army. He was appointed Major of his regiment, at Bolivar, Tennessee, and was soon after promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, but during the Mississippi campaign he was compelled to resign on account.of bad health, which he did at Raymond, Mississippi.
Company C, Seventy-eighth O. V.I., April 16th, 1862. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and took command of his regiment on the battle field of Champion Hills, May 16th, 1863. At Atlanta, he was appointed Colonel of his regiment, and during the greater part of the siege he was in command of the Second Brigade. After the South Carolina campaign, he was appointed Brevet Brigadier General, for his efficiency, as well as that of the regiment. On the campaign from Savannah, Georgia, to Goldsboro. North Carolina, he commanded the Second Brigade through terrible hardships and almost unsurmountable difficulties. When the regiment
Brevet Brigadier General, on merit alone. He was breveted, also, by act of Congress. He remained with his regiment until the close of the war, and was mustered out of service at Columbus, Ohio, July 15th, 1865. He-was said to be one of the best officers in the ar my.
The Seventy-eighth Ohio was one of the best drilled regiments in the army ; was in thirty-five engagements ; never driven from the field by the enemy : when itleft the field of battle it was by order of its own officers.
Company B, of the One Hundred and Fiftyninth O. N. G., was organized in Putnam, in the year 1863. Nearly all of its members lived in Springfield township. It was equipped and mustered into the United States service in response to the call by Governor Brough, for forty thousand volunteers, for one hundred days.
Company B, with the regiment, under orders, proceeded from Zanesville, Ohio, to Harper's Ferry, Virginia, for garrison duty. They were afterwards stationed on Maryland Heights, then at Camp Bradford, Baltimore.
Gilbert D. Munson was appointed Second Lieutenant of Company B, Seventy-eighth O. V.I1.. at the organization of the regiment, December 12th, 1861, and was appointed Captain of his company September 7th, 1862, and was subsequently detailed on General Leggett's staff, and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment, January, 1865. He won a creditable reputation as an officer of more than ordinary ability, and pleasing address. He took command of the regiment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and led it through to Alexandria, Virginia. His coolness and bravery on the field of "battle were almost unequaled. -[He remained with his command until the close of the war, and was mustered out of service at Columbus, Ohio, July 15th, 1865.
The following members of Company B, Seventy-eighth Regiment, O. V. I., were residents of Springfield township: G. W. Beardsley, Amos H. Brelsford, George W. Cooper, Richard Dickinson, Samvel Dickinson, John E. Jones, Samuel 'Lewis, Geo. H. Mathews,
Privates--John J. Ashbaugh,George W. Baughman, James F. Baughman, John Booz, John Curtis, Edward Crowell, William Chilcote, Henry C. Dieterick, John J. Ewen, Geoge B. Ewen, Alphonzo J. Helmuth, Oliver. King, Christian Kagay, Samuel R. Larimer, William J. Lamb, Perry Longshore, William H. Meyers, Louis Munch (who was taken prisoner and escaped), Thomas I. Moorhead, John McMillen, John Melor, Sylvanus Mevay, John Mevay, Thomas Myers, Thomas Ross, James W. Terry, John H. White, and Thomas. Webster. They skirmished all day, Friday, July 8th, at the bottom of South Moun tain, two miles from Frederick City. July oth, they fought the enemy, at the battle of Mono-
" Ah! never shall the land forget, How gushed the life blood of her brave; Gushed, warm with hope and courage yet, Upon the soil they fought to save."
They returned to Camp Bradford July 18th. One Hundreth and Fifty-ninth Regiment, O.V. I. - Lucius P. Marsh was Captain of Company A,and 'Charles W. Potwin, First-Lieutenant.
Putnam Grays
This military company was organized in 1839. The company was well drilled, and made a fine display, in fancy maneuvers, and dress 'parade. The members were among the most prominent citizens of the township, and the majority of them residents of Putnam.
Jesse P. Hatch was Captain. He was a graduate in the Military School of Norwich, Vermont, under Captain Partridge. The company was, therefore, in good hands, and soon acquired proficiency in the manual then in use, as Captain Hatch was. a fine drill master. He made the Greys a model company, in so much that the citizens were proud of it. But odd as it may appear, it is impossible to give a regular list of the membership. The last officers were: Captain, William C. Eli; First Lieutenant, Lawson Wiles; Ensign, J. C. Cherry. The company disbanded in 1845.
The First Regiment of Muskingum County Militia had its headquarters in this township, and was organized in 1863, under an act of the Legislature passed at the session of 1862-3.
Three companies were raised in Springfield. A, M. Huston, H. B. Taylor, and H. L. Gray, were elected Captains. Captain Taylor's company, was, subsequently, consolidated with the other two.
The regiment was composed of twelve companies, viz: Twoin Springtield; three in Brush Creek (Captains, David Walls, G. B. Minear, and Joseph Boyd) ; one in Clay (Captain G. B. Weaver); three in Newton, (Captains H. A. Axline, Geo. W. Jenkins, and James Anderson) ; and three in Hopewell (Captains William Down, Leroy Robinson, and Joseph Porter).
A. M. Huston was elected Colonel of the regiment; G. W. Showers (of Brush Creek), Lieutenant-Colonel; James 'Colvin (of Hopewell township), Major; C. A. Merriam (of Springfield), Adjutant; A. C. Brechville (of Newton township), Quartermaster.
Roll Of Honor Of Military Dead Improved Breeds Of Stock
Cyrus Merriam, who came from Brandon, Vermont, when about twenty-one years of age, and engaged i in merchandising - soon after married the grand-daughter of General Rufus Putnam, now a widow, in her Seventy-seventh year, and to whom we are indebted for this information - in the year 1826, purchased a fruit farm, about two miles southwest of town, and lived there until he died, in November, 1873. In 1828, Mr. Merriam purchased a flock of sheep from Dr. Mathews, and for a few years gave attention to wool growing. In 1843, he and William Baldwin, of Putnam. employed Sandford Howard to goto Massachusetts and purchase for them, and bring to this place, some Durham cattle, for breeding ; also, some Herefords. Mr. Merriam then engaged in raising stock of those varieties, but soon after confined his attention to the shorthorned, and was very successful. He continued in the business as long as he lived, and his sons became his successors.
Devons. - I\n 1864, James Buckingham began growing this highly prized breed of cattle, and subsequently associated with L. H.C. Howard, and continued in the business, Their stock is valued highly, tor breeding purposes, and some of their strains have found purchasers at a considerable distance away.
Provenance
Text from 1794. History of Muskingum County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Pioneers, by Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), published 1882 and in the public domain in the United States. Digitised by the Internet Archive. The settlements listed against this township are matched by point-in-polygon test of each Geographic Names Information System coordinate against the Census Bureau's county subdivision boundary, not by name.