HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY
CHAPTER XXVI.
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.
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"The entrance to the fort, which is on the southeastern side, is cut through a solid sand rock, the distance of one hundred feet or more, and ascends up into the Fort nearly in an angle with the hill. It is about eight feet wide and perhaps fifteen feet deep. The mouth of this lane or entrance is nearly covered by a large rock, which appears to have been detached from the main ledge by some convulsion of nature and removed some thirty feet to its present bed. A few rods west of this entrance there is another entrance of about the same dimensions, and no doubt used for the same purpose. "On the extreme southeastern side of the Fort, where it runs to an obtuse angle, there is a door or opening, which leads off some fifty yards and connects with a small Earthen Fort. This latter Fort, which contains about half an acre, has been thrown up from the earth within, as the trenches are yet very visible, being at least three feet deep, notwithstanding the leaves, vegetation, etc., have been accumulating over them a thousand years, and perhaps much longer. We noticed a number of very large trees growing upon the walls of the 'Stone Fort,' and on the embankments of the 'Earthen Fort,' that were very old. We noticed one old red oak, in particular, could it speak it no doubt could tell a history of six or seven hundred years, and yet these works were constructed prior to the growing of this tree, and it may be, that generation of trees have grown and fallen over those walls, before this dates its existence. Since these works have been constructed, the summit of this hill has evidently been fearfully convulsed by some natural power. "In numerous places, large masses of rock, bearing portions of the wall, have been detached from the main rock, and removed fifty feet from their ancient positions. The lanes or entrances into the Fort have no doubt been caused by the same power. The numerous breaks and fissures in those otherwise solid rocks, are evidence enough of this fact. "The rock, or a very large portion of it, is conglomerate, a mixture of the white pebble and sand, and we picked up several specimens of marine conglomerate, or stone formed from shells, such as are usually found to compose the body of our black limestone. "About the middle of the 'Stone Fort,' there is a huge mound of rocks of the same size of those in the wall, and covering nearly the fourth of an acre of land. Its height is about thirty feet, though it is not as high as it anciently was. Man prompted by curiosity, has displaced the stone and disfigured the pile, expecting perhaps to find some hidden treasure deposited there. "What purpose this massive pile answered in the economy of its founders, we could not even conjecture. Our fancy led us to suppose that it might have answered as a kind of 'King's Bench,' upon which the monarch of that ancient race occassionally ascended (if they had a monarch) and in the dignity of his power proclaimed to his subjects: 'I am King of this people !' We were equally at a loss to conjecture for what purpose the small Earthen Fort, which connects with the large one, could have been used, unless it answered as a kind of side pocket to store away provisions in. It does not look as though anything of particular utility had been connected with it, though we confess we are not a very good judge. But there the works are, the wonder and197
admiration of mankind, of the eventful history of whose builders, not even a sentence is known beyond the diversity of the merest conjecture. "Then added to these interesting relics, a half a mile or so south are the Great Artificial Mound, the Pools, the Standing Rocks and many other objects of a deeply interesting character, where a party can spend a whole day with pleasure and profit. "Upon the whole, these regions are fraught with peculiar interest, especially to the antiquarian, and to those who love to look upon the luxuriant, wild, and romantic scenery of Nature." Hopewell Baptist congregation was organized at a very early day--- probably as early as 1812---but a church edifice was not erected until a few years later, and was built in the southwestern part of Hopewell township, on the road leading from Zanesville to Lancaster---originally Zane's Trace. Several of the original members of the church emigrated from Somerset county, Pennsylvania; among them, Thomas King, who subsequently became the first Representative of Perry county, and was afterwards an Associate Judge. Mr. King was an intelligent man, of sound judgment, and was frequently called upon to arbitrate difficulties between neighbors, and was a veritable "peace-maker." He had no children of his own, but he and his wife raised a large family, nevertheless, and did a father's and mother's part by all of them. A strict Baptist, he was not only tolerant but liberal in all matters pertaining to religion and the general diffusion of knowledge. On one occasion he was speaking in favor of granting the use of Hopewell Church for a general Sabbath-school, and his remarks were making an impression, when another old brother became somewhat excited and cried out "Jezebel." The Hopewell Church was the mother Baptist Church of the county, and nearly all the Baptist preachers of this part of the State preached there at one time or another. The society was a very strong one for forty years or more, but of later years accessions have not been equal to the deaths and removals, and the society has diminished in numbers. The Baptist farmers were well to do and liberal, and the Muskingum Baptist Association was frequently held with the Hopewell congregation, and all visitors entertained free of charge. The cemetery, adjacent to the Hopewell Church, is one of the oldest in the county---probably older than any at Somerset. What is known as Shelley's, or Good Hope Lutheran Church, was organized and built in 1818, though there had been preaching at private houses several years previous to that date. The names of Rev. Jacob Leist, Rev. Jacob Foster, and Rev. Andrew Henkel, are given as among the early preachers. Rev. Foster came to this part of the country about 1805, and died about 1815. Rev. Andrew Henkel, one of the pioneer pillars of the Lutheran Church in Ohio, came to what is now Perry county about 1812, having been ordained to the ministry at New Market, Virginia, a little prior to this date. Rev. Jacob Leist remained a few years and then removed to another county. All the original members of this church are probably dead. The names of Jonathan Franks, John Cooperrider, George Shelley, George Deffenbaugh, and John Cochranbaugh, are given as among the first members. Rev. Jacob Leist preached in private houses prior to the coming of Rev. Andrew Henkel. Among these houses were those of Lewis and John Cooperrider.198
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