1883 History of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio, Part 4, Amanda Twp.

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CHAPTER XXIX.

AMANDA TOWNSHIP.

Amanda township lies in the southwest part of Fairfield county. It is bounded on the north by Bloom township, on the east by Hocking, on the south by Clear Creek and on the west by Pickaway county. Its area is thirty-six square miles, comprising township thirteen, range twenty. The land is generally gently rolling. Clear Creek is the principal stream, traversing the township from north to south by a somewhat circuitous course. Walnut Creek and Turkey Run, flowing west, with their tributaries drain the western part of the township. "Muddy Prairie," about one-half mile in width and three in length, in the southeast corner of the township, was a tract of country, which, in early days, could be shaken perceptibly for rods around by treading heavily upon the ground. It was low and marshy and covered with peat. In early times there was great danger of miring in crossing it, but it has been drained by heavy tiling, and now produces excellent crops. Another small body of land, about sixty acres, in the southwest quarter of section twenty, on account of its peculiar "shaking" qualities was called "Shaking Prairie." Deer could not cross it in pioneer times, but it too has yielded to agricultural purposes, under an improved system of drainage. The soil of this township is very fertile; it is partly clay, and partly a rich black loam. Fruits, vegetables and cereals of all kinds, produce a general yield. Except a few patches of ground along Clear Creek, the entire township was forested at the coming of the first settlers, with a mingled growth of sugar, walnut, ash, oak, cherry, hickory and other varieties of timber. In the southern part of the township, Frederick Leathers, a Virginian, is regarded as the first settler. He settled in the vicinity of Amanda and kept one of the first taverns in the county, and the first in this township. It was located on the old Chillicothe road, about one hundred yards east of the village. It was a large two-story log structure, and a famous resort in early times. A still-house was operated on the premises, which supplied the beverage in universal demand at that time. It was the aim of Leathers to make his tavern a central point, and for that purpose he succeeded in establishing three or four public roads which crossed or terminated at his place. These roads were afterwards changed. This tavern was sold to Isaac Griffith, who remained in possession for many years. It burned to the ground about 1858.

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About the year 1800, Andrew Barr and his five sons, Thomas, Samuel, James, William and John, came from Chester county, Pennsylvania, and settled in section thirty-three, about two miles west of Amanda. Thomas served in the war of 1812. Andrew Barr died about 1813. His descendants still live in this part of the township. George Dysinger, from near Hagerstown, Maryland, was another early settler. He located on Clear Creek, about two miles north of Amanda, and died on the homestead at a ripe old age. Among his earliest neighbors were John Hinton, Michael, Peter and Henry Ridenour, Abraham Myers, George and John Nigh, Timothy and Daniel Collins, Philip Herron and others. In the vicinity of Royalton the Allens were the first settlers. Unlike the other settlers hereabouts, they were Yankees. It was early in 1800 that a colony of forty souls, consisting of Dr. Silas Allen, his four sons, Lemuel, Jedediah, Whiting, and Benjamin, John Searle and Abner Burnat, and their families, left the county of Royalton, Vermont, destined for distant Mississippi. Traveling overland, they reached Lancaster, and pleased with the country, they concluded to abandon their original intention and settle in this county. Section three of Amanda township was selected as the site of their future home, and in a short time they were safely domiciled. Dr. Silas Allen died there about 1822. His two sons, Jedediah and Lemuel, remained here till the close of their lives, and in their time were among the most prominent men of the county. Whiting and Benjamin removed to Delaware, Ohio. Searle lived and died here, but Burnat emigrated to Meigs county. The colonists brought with them a fine carriage, for the use of the women, but when they reached Lancaster they could go no further with it. At this time there was not a tree cut between Lancaster and Royalton, and the men must cut a roadway to their new home. The carriage was finally brought to its final destination, but was never used as a pleasure vehicle. It was stowed away, and thence- forth until it perished from decay became a "turkey roost." The settlement was in the vicinity of an Indian encampment called Tobytown, and the natives frequently paid friendly visits to their new neighbors, usually for trading purposes. They would cross the prairie in single file, the squaws carrying their pappooses on their backs, lashed to a board, and on arriving at the cabins would stand up the boards outside while they went in. Mrs. Elvira Meeker, daughter of Lemuel Alien, is still living at Royalton, at the age of ninety years. Scott's History of Fairfield county contains the following from the pen of Thomas Cole: "In the spring of 1800, three men, names not remembered, came from near Chillicothe and broke ground on the prairie in section number four, planted corn, and then returned home. They came back in due time and tended their corn twice. The next fall one of these men sold his share to Horatio Clark, receiving a horse in payment. The other two likewise disposed of their shares to parties not now remembered. In November of the same year. Wilkinson Lane, of Huntington county, Tennessee, settled on section eight, and was succeeded in the month of June following by Thomas Cole, who had entered the section. The family were never troubled by the Indians. In a few years

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Mr. Cole built a school-house on his land, hired a teacher, Abraham Cole, for eight dollars a month, and then invited all who wished to send their children and pay a pro rata share or not, as they could or would. In those days school hours were from "sun to sun," or as soon as scholars arrived. On one occasion Broad Cole, son of Thomas Cole, born in 1802, and recently deceased, thought of beating the master at school some day, and after a few failures to do so, left home one morning about daybreak, but on arriving at the school-house he was greeted with a good fire, and found the master, a Mr. Smith, banking up earth against the school-house, to protect it against cold. That house was built on the north part of section eighteen. David Swope and William Long were settlers on section eight in June, 1807. In 1803 Valentine Reber came out from Pennsylvania, and entered section ten of the township, and in 1803, he brought out his young wife from Berks county, and settled on the section. Frederick Ehernman, a German, was one of the earliest settlers. His cabin was on section nine. On section ten, John Huber from Penn- sylvania settled early, and lived the remainder of his life. Samuel Peters, Valentine Reber and John Hannaway were three adjoining settlers in the northern part of the township, and each had a family of fourteen children. Richard Hooker, on the southeast quarter of section eighteen, was among the first pioneers. Still others were Joseph Abrams, a blacksmith from Pennsylvania; Thomas Mace, section thirty-three, where he kept tavern and taught school; Henry Christy, section thirty- four; J. P. Hamilton, an early justice and surveyor; Francis Brothers, David Brians, John Crist, section thirty-four; Jacob Gardner from Pennsylvania, Joseph and Edward Highlands, James, John and William Long, section nineteen; James Morris, near Amanda; John Owens, section twenty-five; Thomas Selby, John Torrence, and the Whitemans. Royalton was the first village in the township, and one of the first in the county. It was laid out in 1810; Lemuel and Jedediah Allen were the proprietors; William Hamilton the surveyor. It was laid out by the Allens that they might have the convenience of mechanical skill close at home, obviating the necessity of going to Lancaster for workmen, when their services was required. Lemuel Allen opened a tavern here in 1810, and the same year Jacob Rush. from Baltimore, brought a stock of goods to the embryonic village, and started the first store. The first school in this vicinity was on Lemuel Allen's place. He had just built a stable and determined on dedicating it by holding a school there. Sending to Granville he secured the services of Miss Sabra Case, who received $1.23 per scholar for a term of twelve weeks. She had an enrollment of about twelve pupils. Warren Case afterwards taught here. A school house was immediately built on the site of the present building in Royalton, where public instruction has since been dispensed to the children of the village. The little town was named Royalton from the county from which the Allens emigrated. It has never grown to any considerable extent. Its business, briefly, consists of one general store, a drug store, a furniture

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store, two shoe shops, and two blacksmith shops. Two physicians are located here. Amanda, located in the southeastern part of the township, is a thriving village, which, in 1880, had about three hundred and seventy-five inhabitants, but now perhaps one hundred more. It was laid out about 1830, by Samuel Kessler. The first three houses erected were occupied by Mr. Spitler, a shoemaker; Mr. Potts, a cooper, and Mr. Mouser, a blacksmith. Joseph Reed brought the first little stock of goods to the village for sale, "about a wheel-barrow load," and soon after Joseph Temple offered a greater assortment to the public. Henry Sunderman, however, was the first merchant of prominence. He first sold goods here on commission for Martin & Rogers, then went into business for himself, and carried it on extensively up to the time of his death. There are now three general supply stores, two hotels, a provision store, drug store, grist mill, one brick yard, two harness shops, two blacksmith shops, and a number of other industrial shops located here. It is claimed that four hundred thousand bushels of grain are annually sold at this point, and shipped via the Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad, which passes through the place. Nearly all the grain within a radius of eight or nine miles is brought here, owing to the level or descending roads leading from all directions to Amanda. The village affords three practicing physicians, a neat two-story brick school house, and two churches. Central Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 548, at Amanda, was instituted July 10, 1873. The charter members were: W. H. Dickson, B. Balthaser, T. J. Barr, C. H. Sunderman, T. L. Hewiston, Wm. Acton, W'. B. Sunderman, P. Hewiston, H. D. Aldenderfer, George Aldenderfer, David Crites, Joseph Bechtel, Andrew Laps, and Samuel Griffith, Sr. The membership now numbers seventy-eight. Amanda Lodge of F. and A. M., No.509, was instituted October 28, 1876. Names of charter members were H. G. Trout, Edward Griner, Levi Lawrence, J. D. Landis, B. F. Rambo, Jacob Balthaser, D. M. Miesse, J. A. Julien, and D.J.V. Wolf. The membership has materially increased. New Strasburg was the name of a town laid out many years ago, about a mile west of Amanda, but it never attained a larger size than six or eight houses. Cedar Hill is the name of a post-office in the western part of the township, where a small cluster of houses may be seen. The Presbyterian Church at Amanda was organized in 1838, with William McKinley, John Wylie and Thomas Propeck as elders. Rev. William Jones was the first minister. He presided over the church eight years. During his administration a frame house of worship was erected. The original members numbered thirteen, but within a year the little flock grew to a membership of ninety. Revs. Jewett, William Nelson, George Carpenter, A.Taylor, William Galbreath, William McMillan and A. B. Price have successively been installed pastors. In 1879 a handsome brick church, 40x56 feet, was constructed, at a cost of 4,000. The present membership is sixty.

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The Methodists of Amanda worship in a frame church which they built about forty or more years ago. Their membership is about forty. The congregation is included in the Tarleton circuit. Rev. Dixon is the present pastor. Turkey Run Regular Baptist Church is one of the oldest organizations in the township. The society was organized September 6th, 1817, by Elders Eli Ashbrook and Jacob Thorp. The early meetings were held in Hooker's school house, until about 1838, when the present frame structure was erected. It has recently undergone extensive repairs. Rev. George Tusing is the present pastor. The present membership is about thirty. There are two Evangelical Association (Albright) churches within the township. The Trinity church is located about two miles northwest of Amanda. The structure is of brick, and about 35x45 in size, erected in 1870, at a total expense of $2,500. Rev. Emanuel Tunner had charge of the church when the building was erected. The present pastor is Rev. Eli Shoemaker; the membership about thirty. The society is an old one, and prior to 1870 conducted its religious services at W. Meisey's residence, and in his wagon-shed. Cedar Hill chapel is a building similar in character to the Trinity church, and was erected one year later. Its membership exceeds fifty somewhat. Previously they held meetings at the adjoining school house, and at Reigle's residence. Among the early ministers of this church were Revs. Roch, Wolpert and Downey. Fairview chapel, a Methodist meeting-house, is located near the north line of section 23, and is a neat brick. The class that worships here is not very strong. It was organized more than thirty years ago, and is included within the Royalton circuit. The Royalton Methodist Episcopal Church dates its origin back to 1809, when Rev. Ralph Lotspeach began to preach to the church-loving people of this community, at the cabin of Lemuel Allen. The services were held only occasionally for a while, and were then conducted for many years in the log school house of the village. About 1825 a frame parsonage was built by the members on the site of the present church. When it became dilapidated through age, it was removed, and the brick meeting-house now standing was constructed. It has recently been repaired. The membership exceeds three hundred. Rev. D. J. Smith is the officiating pastor. This township had its little mills, like all others in pioneer times. Amongst the earliest was Richard Hooker's on Turkey Run. When the stream was high there was sufficient water-power to grind the corn for the neighbors, but in dry weather they were compelled to patronize more distant, mills. The Ridenours owned and operated a little saw and grist mill on Clear Creek. Valentine Reber operated a distillery on section 10, where a large quantity of spirits were manufactured. Richard Hooker also owned a small one. The early schools were of the typical rude class of the day. They were almost uniformly small cabins, with a huge fireplace at one end, and chimney built of logs outside. Light was obtained by removing a

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log and replacing it with strips of greased paper. A rough slab extending along the walls of the building formed the writing desk. There was no floor, commonly, and when the children were at play during recess a dense cloud of dust would be raised. It was a building like this that would be used perhaps two and one-half months in a year for school purposes, and the remaining nine and one-half months the sheep and hogs would hold undisputed sway. About the only books used were Dilworth's Spelling- Book, a primer and the New Testament. Occasionally a little arithmetic was taught, but a class rarely progressed as far as the "rule of three."

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
CHAPTER XXIX.
AMANDA TOWNSHIP.
Amanda township lies in the southwest part of Fairfield county. It is bounded on the north by Bloom township, on the east by Hocking, on the south by Clear Creek and on the west by Pickaway county. Its area is thirty-six square miles, comprising township thirteen, range twenty. The land is generally gently rolling. Clear Creek is the principal stream, traversing the township from north to south by a somewhat circuitous course. Walnut Creek and Turkey Run, flowing west, with their tributaries drain the western part of the township. "Muddy Prairie," about one-half mile in width and three in length, in the southeast corner of the township, was a tract of country, which, in early days, could be shaken perceptibly for rods around by treading heavily upon the ground. It was low and marshy and covered with peat. In early times there was great danger of miring in crossing it, but it has been drained by heavy tiling, and now produces excellent crops. Another small body of land, about sixty acres, in the southwest quarter of section twenty, on account of its peculiar "shaking" qualities was called "Shaking Prairie." Deer could not cross it in pioneer times, but it too has yielded to agricultural purposes, under an improved system of drainage. The soil of this township is very fertile; it is partly clay, and partly a rich black loam. Fruits, vegetables and cereals of all kinds, produce a general yield. Except a few patches of ground along Clear Creek, the entire township was forested at the coming of the first settlers, with a mingled growth of sugar, walnut, ash, oak, cherry, hickory and other varieties of timber. In the southern part of the township, Frederick Leathers, a Virginian, is regarded as the first settler. He settled in the vicinity of Amanda and kept one of the first taverns in the county, and the first in this township. It was located on the old Chillicothe road, about one hundred yards east of the village. It was a large two-story log structure, and a famous resort in early times. A still-house was operated on the premises, which supplied the beverage in universal demand at that time. It was the aim of Leathers to make his tavern a central point, and for that purpose he succeeded in establishing three or four public roads which crossed or terminated at his place. These roads were afterwards changed. This tavern was sold to Isaac Griffith, who remained in possession for many years. It burned to the ground about 1858. 199
About the year 1800, Andrew Barr and his five sons, Thomas, Samuel, James, William and John, came from Chester county, Pennsylvania, and settled in section thirty-three, about two miles west of Amanda. Thomas served in the war of 1812. Andrew Barr died about 1813. His descendants still live in this part of the township. George Dysinger, from near Hagerstown, Maryland, was another early settler. He located on Clear Creek, about two miles north of Amanda, and died on the homestead at a ripe old age. Among his earliest neighbors were John Hinton, Michael, Peter and Henry Ridenour, Abraham Myers, George and John Nigh, Timothy and Daniel Collins, Philip Herron and others. In the vicinity of Royalton the Allens were the first settlers. Unlike the other settlers hereabouts, they were Yankees. It was early in 1800 that a colony of forty souls, consisting of Dr. Silas Allen, his four sons, Lemuel, Jedediah, Whiting, and Benjamin, John Searle and Abner Burnat, and their families, left the county of Royalton, Vermont, destined for distant Mississippi. Traveling overland, they reached Lancaster, and pleased with the country, they concluded to abandon their original intention and settle in this county. Section three of Amanda township was selected as the site of their future home, and in a short time they were safely domiciled. Dr. Silas Allen died there about 1822. His two sons, Jedediah and Lemuel, remained here till the close of their lives, and in their time were among the most prominent men of the county. Whiting and Benjamin removed to Delaware, Ohio. Searle lived and died here, but Burnat emigrated to Meigs county. The colonists brought with them a fine carriage, for the use of the women, but when they reached Lancaster they could go no further with it. At this time there was not a tree cut between Lancaster and Royalton, and the men must cut a roadway to their new home. The carriage was finally brought to its final destination, but was never used as a pleasure vehicle. It was stowed away, and thence- forth until it perished from decay became a "turkey roost." The settlement was in the vicinity of an Indian encampment called Tobytown, and the natives frequently paid friendly visits to their new neighbors, usually for trading purposes. They would cross the prairie in single file, the squaws carrying their pappooses on their backs, lashed to a board, and on arriving at the cabins would stand up the boards outside while they went in. Mrs. Elvira Meeker, daughter of Lemuel Alien, is still living at Royalton, at the age of ninety years. Scott's History of Fairfield county contains the following from the pen of Thomas Cole: "In the spring of 1800, three men, names not remembered, came from near Chillicothe and broke ground on the prairie in section number four, planted corn, and then returned home. They came back in due time and tended their corn twice. The next fall one of these men sold his share to Horatio Clark, receiving a horse in payment. The other two likewise disposed of their shares to parties not now remembered. In November of the same year. Wilkinson Lane, of Huntington county, Tennessee, settled on section eight, and was succeeded in the month of June following by Thomas Cole, who had entered the section. The family were never troubled by the Indians. In a few years 200
Mr. Cole built a school-house on his land, hired a teacher, Abraham Cole, for eight dollars a month, and then invited all who wished to send their children and pay a pro rata share or not, as they could or would. In those days school hours were from "sun to sun," or as soon as scholars arrived. On one occasion Broad Cole, son of Thomas Cole, born in 1802, and recently deceased, thought of beating the master at school some day, and after a few failures to do so, left home one morning about daybreak, but on arriving at the school-house he was greeted with a good fire, and found the master, a Mr. Smith, banking up earth against the school-house, to protect it against cold. That house was built on the north part of section eighteen. David Swope and William Long were settlers on section eight in June, 1807. In 1803 Valentine Reber came out from Pennsylvania, and entered section ten of the township, and in 1803, he brought out his young wife from Berks county, and settled on the section. Frederick Ehernman, a German, was one of the earliest settlers. His cabin was on section nine. On section ten, John Huber from Penn- sylvania settled early, and lived the remainder of his life. Samuel Peters, Valentine Reber and John Hannaway were three adjoining settlers in the northern part of the township, and each had a family of fourteen children. Richard Hooker, on the southeast quarter of section eighteen, was among the first pioneers. Still others were Joseph Abrams, a blacksmith from Pennsylvania; Thomas Mace, section thirty-three, where he kept tavern and taught school; Henry Christy, section thirty- four; J. P. Hamilton, an early justice and surveyor; Francis Brothers, David Brians, John Crist, section thirty-four; Jacob Gardner from Pennsylvania, Joseph and Edward Highlands, James, John and William Long, section nineteen; James Morris, near Amanda; John Owens, section twenty-five; Thomas Selby, John Torrence, and the Whitemans. Royalton was the first village in the township, and one of the first in the county. It was laid out in 1810; Lemuel and Jedediah Allen were the proprietors; William Hamilton the surveyor. It was laid out by the Allens that they might have the convenience of mechanical skill close at home, obviating the necessity of going to Lancaster for workmen, when their services was required. Lemuel Allen opened a tavern here in 1810, and the same year Jacob Rush. from Baltimore, brought a stock of goods to the embryonic village, and started the first store. The first school in this vicinity was on Lemuel Allen's place. He had just built a stable and determined on dedicating it by holding a school there. Sending to Granville he secured the services of Miss Sabra Case, who received $1.23 per scholar for a term of twelve weeks. She had an enrollment of about twelve pupils. Warren Case afterwards taught here. A school house was immediately built on the site of the present building in Royalton, where public instruction has since been dispensed to the children of the village. The little town was named Royalton from the county from which the Allens emigrated. It has never grown to any considerable extent. Its business, briefly, consists of one general store, a drug store, a furniture 201
store, two shoe shops, and two blacksmith shops. Two physicians are located here. Amanda, located in the southeastern part of the township, is a thriving village, which, in 1880, had about three hundred and seventy-five inhabitants, but now perhaps one hundred more. It was laid out about 1830, by Samuel Kessler. The first three houses erected were occupied by Mr. Spitler, a shoemaker; Mr. Potts, a cooper, and Mr. Mouser, a blacksmith. Joseph Reed brought the first little stock of goods to the village for sale, "about a wheel-barrow load," and soon after Joseph Temple offered a greater assortment to the public. Henry Sunderman, however, was the first merchant of prominence. He first sold goods here on commission for Martin & Rogers, then went into business for himself, and carried it on extensively up to the time of his death. There are now three general supply stores, two hotels, a provision store, drug store, grist mill, one brick yard, two harness shops, two blacksmith shops, and a number of other industrial shops located here. It is claimed that four hundred thousand bushels of grain are annually sold at this point, and shipped via the Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad, which passes through the place. Nearly all the grain within a radius of eight or nine miles is brought here, owing to the level or descending roads leading from all directions to Amanda. The village affords three practicing physicians, a neat two-story brick school house, and two churches. Central Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 548, at Amanda, was instituted July 10, 1873. The charter members were: W. H. Dickson, B. Balthaser, T. J. Barr, C. H. Sunderman, T. L. Hewiston, Wm. Acton, W'. B. Sunderman, P. Hewiston, H. D. Aldenderfer, George Aldenderfer, David Crites, Joseph Bechtel, Andrew Laps, and Samuel Griffith, Sr. The membership now numbers seventy-eight. Amanda Lodge of F. and A. M., No.509, was instituted October 28, 1876. Names of charter members were H. G. Trout, Edward Griner, Levi Lawrence, J. D. Landis, B. F. Rambo, Jacob Balthaser, D. M. Miesse, J. A. Julien, and D.J.V. Wolf. The membership has materially increased. New Strasburg was the name of a town laid out many years ago, about a mile west of Amanda, but it never attained a larger size than six or eight houses. Cedar Hill is the name of a post-office in the western part of the township, where a small cluster of houses may be seen. The Presbyterian Church at Amanda was organized in 1838, with William McKinley, John Wylie and Thomas Propeck as elders. Rev. William Jones was the first minister. He presided over the church eight years. During his administration a frame house of worship was erected. The original members numbered thirteen, but within a year the little flock grew to a membership of ninety. Revs. Jewett, William Nelson, George Carpenter, A.Taylor, William Galbreath, William McMillan and A. B. Price have successively been installed pastors. In 1879 a handsome brick church, 40x56 feet, was constructed, at a cost of 4,000. The present membership is sixty. 202
The Methodists of Amanda worship in a frame church which they built about forty or more years ago. Their membership is about forty. The congregation is included in the Tarleton circuit. Rev. Dixon is the present pastor. Turkey Run Regular Baptist Church is one of the oldest organizations in the township. The society was organized September 6th, 1817, by Elders Eli Ashbrook and Jacob Thorp. The early meetings were held in Hooker's school house, until about 1838, when the present frame structure was erected. It has recently undergone extensive repairs. Rev. George Tusing is the present pastor. The present membership is about thirty. There are two Evangelical Association (Albright) churches within the township. The Trinity church is located about two miles northwest of Amanda. The structure is of brick, and about 35x45 in size, erected in 1870, at a total expense of $2,500. Rev. Emanuel Tunner had charge of the church when the building was erected. The present pastor is Rev. Eli Shoemaker; the membership about thirty. The society is an old one, and prior to 1870 conducted its religious services at W. Meisey's residence, and in his wagon-shed. Cedar Hill chapel is a building similar in character to the Trinity church, and was erected one year later. Its membership exceeds fifty somewhat. Previously they held meetings at the adjoining school house, and at Reigle's residence. Among the early ministers of this church were Revs. Roch, Wolpert and Downey. Fairview chapel, a Methodist meeting-house, is located near the north line of section 23, and is a neat brick. The class that worships here is not very strong. It was organized more than thirty years ago, and is included within the Royalton circuit. The Royalton Methodist Episcopal Church dates its origin back to 1809, when Rev. Ralph Lotspeach began to preach to the church-loving people of this community, at the cabin of Lemuel Allen. The services were held only occasionally for a while, and were then conducted for many years in the log school house of the village. About 1825 a frame parsonage was built by the members on the site of the present church. When it became dilapidated through age, it was removed, and the brick meeting-house now standing was constructed. It has recently been repaired. The membership exceeds three hundred. Rev. D. J. Smith is the officiating pastor. This township had its little mills, like all others in pioneer times. Amongst the earliest was Richard Hooker's on Turkey Run. When the stream was high there was sufficient water-power to grind the corn for the neighbors, but in dry weather they were compelled to patronize more distant, mills. The Ridenours owned and operated a little saw and grist mill on Clear Creek. Valentine Reber operated a distillery on section 10, where a large quantity of spirits were manufactured. Richard Hooker also owned a small one. The early schools were of the typical rude class of the day. They were almost uniformly small cabins, with a huge fireplace at one end, and chimney built of logs outside. Light was obtained by removing a 203
log and replacing it with strips of greased paper. A rough slab extending along the walls of the building formed the writing desk. There was no floor, commonly, and when the children were at play during recess a dense cloud of dust would be raised. It was a building like this that would be used perhaps two and one-half months in a year for school purposes, and the remaining nine and one-half months the sheep and hogs would hold undisputed sway. About the only books used were Dilworth's Spelling- Book, a primer and the New Testament. Occasionally a little arithmetic was taught, but a class rarely progressed as far as the "rule of three." 204
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