CHAPTERS:
XVIII - Augusta Twp.
XIX - Brown Twp.
XX - East & Fox Twps.
XXI - Harrison Twp.
XXII - Lee Twp.
XXIII. - Loudon Twp.
XXIV. - Monroe Twp.
XXV. - Orange Twp.
XXVI. - Perry Twp.
XXV. - Rose Twp.
XXVIII. - Union Twp.
XXIX. - Washington Twp. |
CHAPTER XXIX.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Pg. 205
LOCATION - BOUNDARIES - ITS
RAILROAD LINES - VILLAGES - ECKLEY POSTOFFICE
STEMPLE - GENERAL FEATURES - POPULATION
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES - ORGANIZATION
CONCERNING ITS SETTLEMENT - COUNTY INFIRMARY
In range 5, township 14 is
found Washington civil township in Carroll County.
As now constituted it contains twenty-six sections.
Its southwestern corner is irregular on
account of the formation of Center township which
was carved from out of Washington and other central
sub-divisions of the county.
It is bounded on the north by Augusta and East
townships and on the west by Center and Harrison
townships.
It was named Washington, while yet a part of Columbiana
County, and was so named on account of Washington,
Pennsylvania being where so many of the pioneers to
this township came and effected their settlement.
POPULATION
The United States census
report gave this township a population of 665 in
1890; in 1900 it was 634 and in 1910 was placed at
601.
COUNTY INFIRMARY
The county infirmary
was located in the northwest corner of section 28, a
little more than three miels from the county seat -
Carrollton.
ECKLEY POSTOFFICE
This postoffice was
established in the center of section 17, many years
ago, the same being named in honor of General
Ephriam R. Eckley, then a member of Congress
from this district.
GENERAL REMARKS
This
township is within the heart of as good an
agricultural section as central Carroll County
affords. For decades this tract has been well
cultivated and subdued, at first being a dense
forest land with wild game and dangerous animals,
who up to the advent of men with guns, had been the
possessors of the territory destined to be an
excellent country in which a happy, prosperous
people should eventually live.
The houses of the early settlers in this township did
not offer much from those in other parts of the
county. They were of a peculiar structure,
however, and ranged in size from fifteen to twenty
feet
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square, and usually not over ten feet in height in
the center, under the ridgepole, but were really two
stories in height, the lower room not being in
excess of six and a half feet, making it necessary
to remove one's hat, when the person entering was
more than ordinary heighth. The roof was
generally of clap-boards, the floor of puncheon, and
the door swung on heavy wooden hinges, with the
latch-string, throughout the day time ever hanging
outside, but at night time it was pulled inside,
which really served well as a lock, for the crossbar
of the cabin was inside. These cabins were
used as late as the '80s, in many instances, through
this section of the country, but the rule was that
long prior to that date, the pioneer had provided
himself with a better house - frame or brick.
Some of the oldest citizens now residing in the
county will recall Valentine Friday who used to
relate how he drove the wolves from his cabin home
on many occasions by burning a pine knot. Once
he remarked that the "modern wolf at the door" would
not be driven from the door in that way!
In the '70s and '80s many of the pioneer relics could
be seen in this as well as other parts of Carroll
County. The old orchards, the same spring of
water, with the remains of the old homestead
buildings marked the spot where the pioneer had
settled, lived and finally died, and with some of
them the plow-share has long since effaced every
trace of their burial place.
Now the residents of Washington Township live within
sound of the church going bell, have schools of
modern standards of excellency, have good highways
and possess all that one needs to be contented and
happy.
Of the schools and churches other chapters (in a
general way) mention all that is of much historic
interest, hence need not be enlarged upon in this
connection.
RAILROADS
The Lake Erie &
Western Railway passes through the extreme northeast
corner of Washington Township, but there is no
station within its territory. the Wheeling &
Lake Erie touches section 34 of this township.
Stemple village is a station on the western line of
the township, but is simply a way-station on the
western line of the township, but is simple a
way-station point - a flag-station.
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