THE BEST FROM AN AGRICULTURAL STANDPOINT.

LICK TOWNSHIP.

     Lick is the oldest township in Jackson County.  Previous to the county's organization it was a township in Ross County, was organized in the winter of 1808 - '9, and its first election was held in April, 1809.  It was then composed of the territory of what is now Coal, Washington, Scioto and Jackson, besides its own boundary.  Having within its borders at that time nearly all of the salt reservation, it found permanent settlers as early as 1798.  At the time of the organization of Jackson County, which was taken from Ross, Scioto, Gallia and Athens, Lick became one of the original townships of the county, formed in May, 1816.  It did not, however, remain log with its extensive territory, for in June, 1816, Jackson Township was formed, and but a few years expired before it had been curtailed to the dimensions of a congressional township.  In July, 1816, an order of the court changed its boundaries to include all of township 7, of range 18, and all of township 7, of range 18, and all of township 7, of range 19, excepting the north tier of sections.  This order reads as follows:

LICK TOWNSHIP.

     "It was also ordered at this meeting that Lick Township should have the following boundaries: Beginning at the northeast corner of section 1, township 7 and range 18, the line to run due south to the southeast corner of section 36 of township aforesaid; thence west to the county line at the southwest corner of section 31, township 7 and range 19; thence north along the county line to the northwest corner of section 7, township 7 and range 19; thence east to the northeast corner of section 12, township 7 and range 19; thence north to the northwest corner of section 6, township 7, range 18; thence east to the place of beginning."
     These boundaries gave Lick Township all of thee present township of that name, together with the present Liberty Township, with the exception of the northern and western tier of sections.
     This included Liberty Township except the north tier of sections mentioned and the territory lying west of range 19.  From the date of the organization of Liberty Township Lick became only a congressional township, and this continued its size until January, 1883, when Coal Township robbed it of one-third of its territory, leaving it with but twenty-four sections of land.  Lick has been the butt of nearly all the surrounding townships, and when any of them wanted to increase their size Lick seemed to be the object of their attack, until from being a township of generous proportions she is now but an infant in size.

[Pg. 587]

THE PREFERRED LICK.

TOPOGRAPHY.

THE PIONEERS.

     Lick Township being organized by Ross so early, and so many years before the county was organized, gives it a history anterior to that of the county, but the pioneer came and settled even before the township was known.  The main salt springs were in Lick Township and for a few years the place was known as "Salt Lick," and the latter name was finally chosen for the township when organized.  We give a few names of the earliest arrivals, and the prominent men before the county came into existence.  The following were all permanent settlers prior to the organization of the county and in fact prior to 1812: John Munday, Abraham Welsh, Joshua Winks, John Prather, Thomas Trago, William Niblack, Paul Bunk, John Gillespie, Austin Palmer, Samuel Niblack, John James, Joseph Clements, David Mitchell, John Sargeant, Daniel Stoy, David McConnel, Isaac Washburn, Jared Strong, Matthew Kidder, William Bares, Thomas Foster, Francis Heron, Thomas Scott, Asa Lake, Elkana Bramlette, Emanuel Hoover, Austin, Palmer, Robert Strother, John Brander, Elijah Strong, Paris Griffeth, Thomas M. Carbotte, John Lake, Jesse Watson, Jacob Scallenger, William Higginbotham, Samuel A. Hall, John Ogg, Peter Marshall, Jesse Wilson, Philip Strother, Jackson Taylor, Samuel Rice, Joseph Armstrong, Joseph Lake, Joseph Stockholm, George L. Crookham, William White, John Stewart, Henry Armstrong, John Armstrong, Charles Higginbotham, George Mooney, Joseph W. Ross, Olney Hawkings, William Golby, William Hill, Samuel Goodenough, John McGee, Robert Patrick, William Howe, Daniel Harris, Joseph Clemens, Timothy Allen, Phillip Hartley, John Stewart, Samuel Bunn, Benjamin Haines, Daniel Clark, Samuel Aldridge, James McDaniels, Peter Bunn, Aaron Martin, William Jolly, Absalom Wells, Andrew Donnelly, Benjamin Kiger, Richard Perdue and David Pinney.
     Most of these names will be familiar to many now living.  They are those who settled here and lived, and most of them found their graves within the township.
     The first Justices of the Peace date from 1809, and the names of David Mitchell, William Niblack, William Givens, Jared Strong, and Joseph Armstrong, were all acting as such in this township, prior to the organization of the county.  The two former were the first who served.
     The first Grand Juror from Lick Township, was Olney Hawkings, and Petit Jurors, Robert Patrick and William Niblack.  They served March 6, 1809, seven years before the county came into existence.
     In 1812 the township treasurer made his report from April, 1810, to April, 1812.  The amount received for the two years was $19.00 and the expenditures for the same time was $17.55; balance, $1.45.  John Brander, Clerk of the township, received $15, for his services for the year 1813.

ASSESSED VALUATION AND AREA

[Pg. 588]

ITS GROWTH

ASSESSED VALUATION AND AREA

[Pg. 589]
1873, there was a balance to the credit of the boundy fund of $728.45.  This amount was turned over at above date to the Board of Education of Lick Township for school purposes.  The amount was turned over at above date to the Board of Education of Lick Township for school purposes.  The township holds the brine deposit of the county, and is noted for the quantity and quality of its coal and iron ore which lies under the surface.  There are six school districts in the present bounds of the township outside the city of Jackson.  There are the same territory one Free-Will Baptist church and one Methodist, on lot 29 of the Salt Reservation, and one Methodist Church on section 23; two cemeteries also in the country.  It has two railroads running through the township - the Portsmouth Branch, running southwest, and then east of south from Jackson, and the Ohio Southern, which comes in on the West and runs north to Wellston.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS

     The first township officers elected, April, 1809, were as follows:  Trustees, Roger Seldon, David Mitchell and Robert Patrick; Treasurer, "Levi Patrick; Clerk, John Brander; Lister, Sam'l. Niblack; Overseers Poor, John James and Olney Hawkins; Constables, Sam'l. Niblack and Phillip Strother.  Olney Hawkins refused to serve as Overseer of the Poor, and he was fined.  Then the Trustees appointed Stephen Radcliff, Sr.  Roger Seldon, Trustee, removed to another county and Wm. Niblack was appointed Trustee May 20, 1809.  Levi Patrick, Town Treasurer,  removed to Virginia, and Olney Hawkins was appointed Mar. 10, 1810.  The present officers, 1883, are: Trustees, W. T. Washam, Jos. Humphries, Andrew Henson; Clerk, Sam'l. Stevenson; Assessor First Precinct, Thos. Rogers; Assessor Second Precinct, Wm. D. Trago; Constables, James Baker, W. E. Arthur.

BIOGRAPHICAL

     Allison Brown, farmer, was born in Jackson County, Oct. 1, 1827, where he was reared to farm life, and passed through all the phases of pioneer life, and at present owns a good farm near Jackson, Ohio.  He was married in 1851 to Lucy A., a daughter of David and Anna Dennis, of Jackson County.  Eleven children have been born to this union, of whom three sons and seven daughters are living.  Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  His father, Solomon Brown, was a native of Greenbrier County, Va., and settled in Jackson County in 1815, where he spent his life in developing the agricultural interests of the county.  He died in Jackson County in October, 1873, at the age of ninety-three years.  He was married to Elizabeth Vernon, mother of our subject.  She was a native of North Carolina and came with her parents to Ohio in an early day.  She died in Jackson County at the age of seventy-seven years in November, 1875.

     George Washington Brown, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Jackson County, Feb. 10, 1822.  His father, William Brown, was born in1795 in Greenbrier County, Va., and came to Ohio in 1u1y and died in 1880.  His mother, Martha (Burris) Brown, was a native of Gallia County, Ohio, and when a child came to Jackson County where she died in 1837.  Our subject attended school till his mother's death and when nineteen years old, taught school.  At the end of three years he sold clocks, continuing in this business for two years, after which he and J. H. McClintock engaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of Brown & McClintock.  He sold out at the end of six months and farmed and taught school till 1855.  He then embarked in the mercantile trade which continued two years, under the firm name of G. W. & J. A. Brown, when they sold out.  He then followed farming till 1865 on Little Raccoon, when he sold his farm and in March, 1865, purchased his present farm.  He was married in October, 1847, to Minerva, daughter of Charles and Viletta Lott  They have had

[Pg. 590]
two sons and five daughters born to them.  His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mr. Brown was elected Commissioner of Jackson County in 1871 and served two terms.  He is a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., and of the chapter and council, R. A. M., of Jackson.  He is also a member of the Knights Templar Commandery of Chillicothe, Ohio.

     Elwood B. Dickason, farmer, stock-dealer and dairyman, near Jackson, was born in Jackson County in 1858.  He was reared a farmer and educated at the graded schools of Jackson and since attaining his majority has been engaged in his present business.  Oct. 1, 1878, he was married to Ida, daughter of Mary A. and Absalom Nelson, of Jackson County.  They have a family of two children - Cornelia N. and Charles A.  His wife is a member of Presbyterian church.  Reuben Dickason, grandfather of our subject, was born Dec. 2, 1795, in Virginia and settled in Jackson County in 1819 where he is still living.  Our subject's father, Charles Dickason, was born and reared in Jackson County and is now living in Jackson.

     William R. Foster was born in Monroe County, W. Va., Oct. 28, 1824, and is the eldest son of Robert and Catherine (Rice) Foster who were born, reared and married in Monroe County.  At the age of sixteen years he removed with his parents, in 1840, to Jackson County, where they died.  He was reared to farm labor and educated at the common schools, and by industry has obtained a good home.  Aug. 13, 1846, he was married to Anna, daughter of Wilson and Charity Hogbin.  Of their four children three are living.  One son died in infancy.  Mrs. Foster died Mar. 10, 1853.  He married his second wife, Harriet Connelly May 18, 1854.  They had three children two of whom died in infancy.  His wife died July 23, 1863, and Jan. 16, 1864 he married Mrs. Lydia (Wilson) Tilly, by whom he has had one son and a daughter.

     Hugh Gilliland, son of Samuel and Sarah (Krouskop) Gilliland, was born Feb. 5, 1824, in Jackson County where he was reared a farmer and received a limited education.  He was employed as a teamster at Jackson Furnace for ten yeas and during that time saved $1,000, which he invested successfully in lands.  Since then he has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock, and is the possessor of a farm of 440 acres in Franklin Township, 320 acres in Jefferson Township, and 310 acres where he resides, in Lick Township.  He also has $10,000 in the Tropic Iron Furnace.  He was married Mar. 1, 1849, to Nancy, daughter of Charles and Margaret Slavens, pioneers of Pike County, where her father died at the age of seventy-five years.  Her mother is living yet, aged eighty-four years.  Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland one son and six daughters.  The son died at the age of twenty-two years.  One daughter died when thirty-one years old and the other at the age of eighteen years.  Mr. Gilliland has served one term as Trustee of Franklin Township.  His parents settled in Jackson County in 1817.  His father died at the age of sixty-four years and his mother at the age of fifty-five years.

     Edward Heath, son of Christian and Martha Heath, was born in Jackson County, Feb. 8, 1829, and has always followed the avocation of a farmer.  He was married May 11, 1858, to Eliza A., daughter of William and Sarah Kesinger by whom he had three sons and six daughters, of whom one son and one daughter are deceased.  He and wife are members of the Disciple church.  His father was a native of Maryland, and died in Jackson County at the age of forty-five years.  His mother was born in Ohio.  She is still living, being in her eighty-third year.

     John R. Heath, son of Edward and Eliza A. Heath, was born in Jackson County, Feb. 27, 1859.  His parents being in poor circumstances he had to go to work at an early age,

[Page 591]
and therefore had not much opportunity for obtaining an education, but by studying nights he fitted himself for a teacher.  He taught his first school in Liberty Township in the winter of 1879-'80, and the following spring entered the school at Jackson.  The following winter he taught again in his first school, after which he taught in the River Mill school in Pike County.  He is at present teaching in a graded school in Pike County, where he is giving general satisfaction, and may be ranked among the most successful teachers of Pike and Jackson counties.

     Andrew Henson, son of Larkin and Nancy (Lackey) Henson was born Apr. 14, 1830, in Jackson County, Ohio.  He lived on the home farm and attended the common schools till he was twenty-one years of age, when he entered the Ohio University at Athens where he spent two years, and the following year taught school, for J. D. Claar at the Cross Roads, Jackson County.  From 1857 till 1861 he was bookkeeper for the Cambria Iron Company, and in 1862 he was salesman for J. D. Claar.  He had an interest in the Five-Mile Furnace in Hocking County and was sole manager for four years, after which he managed the Limestone Furnace two years.  He was the bookkeeper and manager of the Madison Furnace four years, and from 1876 till September, 1881, he was manger and bookkeeper of Latrobe Furnace, Jackson.  Since 1881 he has devoted his time to his farm and to dealing in stock.  He was married Mar. 1, 1863, to Catherine, daughter of John J. and Rebecca (Cherington) Evans.  They have a family of five children - Morris A., Emma B., Carrie A., William C. and Elbert F.  He and his wife are members of the Methodist church.  He is a Trustee of Lick Township and a member of Oak Hill Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

     John Johnson was born in Dec. 25, 1823, in Carroll County, Ohio, where his parents, James and Jane (Kerr) Johnson, settled in an early day.  Mr. Johnson died when our subject was an infant, and when he was fourteen years old his mother married again and he left home and worked for a farmer till he was twenty-two years old.  He then bought sixty acres of land in Carroll County where he farmed four years, and in 1851removed to Jackson County and purchased his present farm which contained 160 acres, but at present he owns 203 acres, which is underlaid with three veins of hill coal and one vein of shaft coal and also an abundance of iron ore.  He has devoted his time to his farm and stock and has some of the best stock in the county.  In 1848 he married Catherine McDaniel of Carroll County.  They were the parents of one son and a daughter.  The former died at the age of one year.  His wife died in 1853, and in 1855 he married Mrs. Caroline (Plummer) Poor.  Five children were born to this union all living.  His wife died Jan. 28, 1873, and Nov. 16, 1875, he married his third wife, Mrs. Sarah (Davis) Vernon.  They have been blessed with two daughters.

     Samuel Watt McClung, son of Mordecai and Nancy (Wilson) McClung, was born near Jackson, Sept. 7, 1841.  His father was born in Baltimore County, Md., in 1809, and his mother was born in 1816, in Washington County, Pa.  In 1834 they settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, and came to Jackson County in 1841.  He worked at the blacksmith's trade till 1840, after which he pursued farming till his death of 1869.  His widow is still living.  At the age of twenty years our subject taught school, and followed teaching and farming for ten years, since when he has devoted his entire time to his farm.  He was married Sept. 15, 1870, to Annie daughter of Daniel and Melinda (Dawson) Harrel.  They have two children - John J. and Nellie May.  Mrs. McClung is a member of the Christian church.

     John D. Mitchell, commercial traveler, was born in Jackson County, Dec. 23, 1841, and enlisted in the late war July, 1861, in Com-

[Pg. 592]
pany D, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry, as a private for three years, and was appointed First Sergeant, and the following winter was promoted to Second Lieutenant, being assigned to Company A.  He remained with the same regiment during the war.  The next summer he was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company H, and in 1863 became Captain of Company C, which he commanded during the war.  He participated in the battles of Second Bull Run, Smith Mountain, Md., Antietam, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Cloyd Mountain, Lynchburg raid, Lexington and many others.  He participated in all the engagements in the Shenandoah Valley.  He was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1, 1865.  After the war he engaged in his present business and has traveled for the firm of Minor & Dixon, wholesale grocers of Cincinnati, for sixteen years.  He was married Apr. 1, 1868, to Isabelle, daughter of Ralph and Sabra Loft, of Steubenville, Ohio.  They have a family of four children - George C., Ada T., Charles R. and John D., Jr.  His wife is a member of the Methodist church.  He is a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Jackson, Ohio.  His grandfather, David Mitchell was a native of Kentucky, and settled in Jackson County prior to 1812.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was at one time Probate Judge of Jackson County, and represented the county of two terms in the State Legislature.  He was a Whig in politics and died in Jackson County.  David H. Mitchell father of our subject, was born in Jackson County, Jan. 16, 1816, and for thirty years was a prominent physician of Jackson, where he died in November, 1868.  He was married in 1838 to Typhenia Hewitt, who was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1821.  Her grandfather, Moses Hewitt, was one of the first settlers of Athens County, and was one of the Trustees of the Ohio University for a number of years.  Joseph Hewitt, the father of Mrs. Mitchell and son of Moses Hewitt, was born and reared in Athens County and at one time the Sheriff of the county.  He died in the State of Iowa.

     Joseph Peterson, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Jackson County, Apr. 7, 1832, a son of James and Mary (Floro) Peterson, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent.  His father was born where Jackson is now situated, Sept. 14, 1802, and his mother was born in 1800 on the Potomac River, in Virginia.  They were married in Jackson County and reared a family of seven children, and in 1851 she died, her husband's death occurring in 1859.  At the age of twenty-one years our subject began boating on the Ohio Canal, which occupation he followed for seven years, after which he was employed in burning charcoal in furnaces and soon after became a coal contractor, which business he successfully followed till 1875.  In 1875 he purchased his present farm to which he has devoted his entire time since 1875.  His farm is well supplied with iron ore and coal.  Dec. 23, 1859, he was married to Sarah Scott, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of William and Maria (Scott) Butler, of Irish descent.

     John Poor, son of George and Mary (Billups) Poor, was born in Jackson County, Nov. 18, 1841.  His father being a stock-dealer, he, at the age of fifteen years, began dealing in stock for his father.  Upon attaining his majority he began farming and stock-dealing for himself and has been ever since successfully engaged.  He was married in November, 1861, to Mary, daughter of Allison and Sarah (Nelson) Kinnison.  Their children are - Rissie A., Charlie C., John S. and Drue E.  Mr. Poor and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  His father was born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1802, and his mother was a native of Virginia.  They settled in Jackson County in an early day, where

[Pg. 593]
his father died at the age of seventy-three years, June 12, 1875.  His mother died Feb. 9, 1864, in her sixty-third year.

     Ambrose Scott, farmer, is the third son of Benjamin F. and Priscilla Scott.  His father was born in Maryland in 1796, and married in Virginia in 1817, and soon after settled in Athens County, near Coolville, where he was reared on a farm and attended the log-cabin schools.  He was first employed as driver of a stage coach for the Ohio Stage Company for three years.  He was then engaged in the mercantile trade in Jackson from 1848 to 1862 since when he has farmed and dealt in iron ore.  He has an office on Broadway, Jackson, where he transacts his business.  He was married Nov. 7, 1850, to Melinda, daughter of William C. and Elizabeth Humphrey who came from Virginia to Ohio in 1819.  They have been blessed with a family of three sons and four daughters.  His wife belongs to the Baptist denomination.

     William T. Washam was born in Pittsylvania County, Va., Apr. 27, 1840, and is a son of William and Fannie (Collins) Washam, the former of Scotch and latter of Welsh descent.  He was left an orphan when very young, and when four years old came with his sister, Mrs. Dove, to Jackson County, Ohio.  He obtained a good education by attending the common schools, and worked at brick-making till the breaking out of the late war.  Sept. 20, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was on duty at several different places.  He participated in the battles of Strawberry Plains, Bull's Gap, and Athens, Tenn., and in 1864 was a delegate to the Ohio State Convention that elected Cox for Governor.  He was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., and discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1865, when he returned home and followed farming till 1868.  He then engaged in the mercantile business in Jackson, and in 1871 his nephew became a partner, the firm name being Washam & Co. until 1873.  In that year he purchased one-eighth interest in the Ophir Iron Furnace, and soon after purchased three-fourths of the stock, and ran the furnace eighteen months.  He then sold his furnace and mercantile interests, and has since been engaged in farming and manufacturing brick.  Dec. 31, 1857, he was married to Tabitha, daughter of Benjamin and Tabitha (Seward) Branscom.  Five of the six children born to them are living - John J., William T., Jr., Nellie O., David and Stella B.  Harry B. died, aged three years.  His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.  He has served his township as Treasurer two years, and for the past several years has held the office of Township Trustee.  In 1870 he was elected a member of the Board of Equalization, and re-elected in 1880, his present term expiring in 1890.  He is a member of Trowel Lodge No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Jackson, and member of the Chapter R. A. M. of the same place.  He is also a member of Salt Lick Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Jackson, and of the Ancient Order of Red Men, and of the Knights of Labor.

     Daniel Henry Whetsel was born Jan. 6, 1848, in Jackson County, and is a son of Jacob and Verlinda (Maddox) Whetsel.  He joined the United Brethren church when twelve  years old, and in 1872 became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  At the age of twenty-one years he went to the Wilkesville Academy, in Vinton County, and after leaving school engaged in teaching and local preaching.  He taught school during the winters, attending school in the summer, till 1876, since which time he has followed farming and local preaching.  He owns the George L. Crookham farm, which is well supplied with coal, both for domestic useand smelting purposes.  He was married Apr. 15, 1874, to Samantha A., daughter of

[Pg. 594]
Thomas and Belinda (Allison) Neal  She has belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church since her twelfth year.  Their children are - Emerson J., Wiley N., Ora O. and Harry M.   Lola E., their eldest child, died in infancy.

     William Madison Wykle is the eldest son of Henry and Elizabeth (Rose) Wykle, the former born in Monroe County, West Va., Dec. 11, 1803, and the latter in Giles County, Tenn., in 1807.  His parents were married in Monroe County in 1827, and came to Jackson County, Ohio, in 1834, when they resided until death.  The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 16, 1836.  He was reared a farmer, and helped clear the farm, and has followed farming through life, with the exception of two terms, when he taught school.  He attended the common schools, and graduated the Jackson High School.  His grandfather resides with him, at the advanced age of ninety-six years.  May 22, 1850, he was married to Mary A. Johnson, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and a daughter of George and Jane (Cunningham) Johnson  This union has been blessed with one son and four daughters, all of whom are living.  The eldest, a son now twenty-two years old, assists his father on the farm.  They have attended the common schools, and are well educated and accomplished children.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP

     Originally the greater part of Liberty Township belonged to Lick Township, part of its territory being embraced in the Salt Lick reservation.  All but the northern row of sections belonged to Lick, which was formed at the organization of the county in May, 1816.  Jackson Township, which was organized in July, 1816, included the northern row of sections, now forming Liberty Township.
     In the commissioners' record of Dec. 3, 1839, the following order appears: "Ordered, That the auditor notify the inhabitants of township 7, range 19, by advertisements, to meet at the house of Wm. Newell, in said township, on Saturday, the 21st day of the present month, then and there to proceed to elect officers for said township."  This was, without doubt, the first election held in the township of Liberty, was a separate voting precinct.
     Among the old settlers may be mentioned the names of T. Meeker, John and James Harrison, Joseph and Titus Baily, James and Hugh Martin, Joseph and Abner Whaley, John Hartmann, James Boyd, John Ratcliff, George Glasburn, William Jackson, Augustus Lewis, Elzy and Smith Landrum, James Bower, David Roberts, Simon Howell and Samuel Vandivort.

TOPOGRAPHY AND MINERALS.

[Pg. 595]

POPULATION AND IMPROVEMENTS.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

     There are nine school districts in the township and ten schools, one of the districts having a white and a colored school.  The last enumeration (1883) gave the township 617 children of school age.
     Sub-district No. 1, called the Pine School, has seventy-two scholars.
     Sub-district No. 2 has two schools.  The Hartley School (white) sixty-there scholars, and the Sharon School (colored) sixty scholars.  The later is governed by the township school Board. 
     Sub-district No. 3, the Whaley School, has fifty-eight scholars. 
     Sub-district No. 4, the Tope School, has seventy-eight Scholars.
     Sub-district No. 5, the Rapp School, has fifty-seven scholars.
     Sub-district No. 6, the Coen School, has forty-nine scholars.
     Sub-district No. 7, the Glasburn School, has fifty-nine scholars.
     Sub-district No. 8, the Aten School, has fifty-eight scholars.
     Sub-district No. 9, the Sheridan School, has sixty-three scholars.

     Perhaps the first school-house ever built in the township was the old log-cabin school-house, situated on the Glasburn place.  It was built in 1827.
     The township has four churches, founded along in its history as the growing population seemed to demand.

     Pleasant Grove Church

[Pg. 596]

     Christian Church

     Presbyterian Church

     Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church

BIOGRAPHICAL.

     Thomas J. Griffith was born Aug. 17, 1849, in Fayette County, Penn., and in December, 1862, accompanied his parents, James H. and Margaret (Bird) Griffith to Ohio.  They first settled in Washington Township, where his parents still reside.  He worked on the farm with his father till he attained his majority, when having obtained a teacher's certificate, he began to teach in the district schools and taught for six years.  In 1876 he bought 235 acres of land in Liberty Township, Jackson County, where he has since remained, making a specialty of farming and rising sheep, having at the present time 119 head of fine merinos.  His land is underlaid with a vein of coal three and one-half feet in thickness, and iron ore is found in large quantities.  He was married Apr. 28, 1875, to Catherine Rouland, a daughter of William and Nancy Rouland, of Vinton Co., Ohio.  They have four children - William A., Nancy M., Martha G. and Lilly C.  He and his wife are members of Bethel Chapel. 

     John McCartney

[Page 597]

     William Ragland, Jr.

     David Roberts

     Johnson A. White, M. D.,

[Page 598]

     Samuel White

SCIOTO TOWNSHIP.

     Scioto is one of the western townships of Jackson County.  Its boundaries are as follows:  North by Liberty Township, east by Franklin Township, south by Hamilton Township and Scioto County, and west by Pike County.

TOPOGRAPHY AND STREAMS.

[Pg. 599]

ORGANIZATION.

SETTLEMENT.

     The date of the earliest settlement in this township is but a few years later than the earliest in the county.  John Graham is recorded as having received by patent from the Government and entered the southeast half of the southwest quarter of section 35, in the year 1817.  Edward Crabtree entered in a like manner a quarter of section 30 in 1818.  Mr. Tolbert, father of Thornton Tolbert, entered a quarter of section 25, adjoining the land of Edward Crabtree, and about the same time Samuel McDowell entered a portion of section 20.
     Other of the early settlers were Joseph Graham, Wm. Thomas, Lewis Crabtree, George Bowen, Peter Keller, Jacob Culp, David Walton and others.  The earliest records to be found show the following crops of officers for the year 1823, viz.:  Trustees, Seth Graham, Nathaniel Scott and John McDowell; Treasurer, Peter Kelan; Clerk, John McDowell, Jr.; Lister, Henry Culp, Overseers of the Poor, Edward Crabtree and Isaac Miller; Constables, Nathan Burgess and John Burges; Justices of the Peace, Samuel McDowell and Alexander Anderson.
     For the present year (1883) the officers are as follows:  Trustees, W. B. Pratt, Adam Shier and Evan Crabtree; Treasurer, J. W. Hays; Clerk, W. A. Russell; Assessor, John Eaton; Constables, Daniel Martin, James Evans and A. M. Dais; Justices of the Peace, James Davis, Robert Beatty and Joseph Wiseman.

POPULATION AND VALUATION.

[Pg. 600]

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

     The township has nine school districts, with an average of about sixty-six pupils enumerated in 1883.

     Sub-district No. 1, Buckeye School, has eighty-five pupils;
     Sub-district No. 2, Cove School, has eighty-two;
     Sub-district No. 3, Miller's School, has sixty-six;
     Sub-district No. 4, Dixon School, has fifty-two;
     Sub-district No. 5, Baker School, has sixty-three;
     Sub-district No. 6, Fairview School, no report;
     Sub-district No. 7, Grahamsville School has ninety-four;
     Sub-district No. 8, White School, has forty-five;
     Sub-district No. 9, Crabtree School, has forty-seven.

     The New Zion Protestant Methodist Church

     The Methodist Episcopal Church

     The Protestant Methodist Church

     The Providence Free-Will Baptist Church

[Page 601]

     The German Presbyterian Church

VILLAGES.

     Lewisville, situated on section 27, has a general country store and a postoffice kept in the store.  Lewis Nye is owner of the store, and Postmaster.

     Petersburg, located almost in the center of the township, has a country store and postoffice, both kept by John Flaker, and a blacksmith shop.

     Grahamville has a store and blacksmith shop, store owned by Jacob Pierce, located in southwestern part of the township.  A portion of the Ohio Southern Railroad runs through the northern part of the township, and has two stations within its limits, viz; Whitman's and Cove's stations.

     A tanyard was established in this township at a very early day by William Lyons.  It was on section 24, on land now owned by William Howard.  It is said to have been the first tannery established in the county.
     The saw and grist mill now owned by Enoch Crabtree was built by David Walton in 1823.  Mr. Walton sold it in 1829 to Daniel White; Mr. White sold it in 1834 to William E. Crabtree, and he sold it in 1852 to its present owner, Mr. Enoch Crabtree.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

     William Henry Butcher, farmer and dealer in stock, Scioto Township, is the second son of Adam and Nancy (Adams) Butcher.  He was born Feb. 16, 1854, in Pike County, Ohio, and lived on a farm with his parents till he attained his majority.  At the age of twenty-one years he began farming and dealing in stock in Pike County, and in 1878 was elected Assessor of Marion Township, Pike County, and re-elected in 1879.  In 1881 he purchased a farm north of Jackson, Jackson County, which he sold in 1883 and bought the farm were he now resides.  He was married June 15, 1880, to Matilda A., daughter of John and Margaret (Johnson) McMonagal of Pike County.  One son has been born to them - Guy E.  His wife died Jan. 7, 1883, aged twenty-five years.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mr. Butcher is a Republican in politics.  He is a member of the Trowel Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., Jackson.

     Enoch Crabtree, farmer and owner of the grist and saw ill on Little Scioto River, was born Sept. 21, 1824, in Jackson County.  He was educated in the subscription schools and followed farming till 1854.  He then removed to his present farm, where he has since been engaged in farming and milling.  His mill is run by water-power, and was first built by David Walton in 1823, being the first one in Scioto Township.  It was re-built by William

[Pg. 602]
Crabtree, and in 1854 was again re-built by our subject.  He was married Nov. 30, 1845, to Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary (Carpenter) Keller.  Of the five children born to them four are living - Edward K., Serena, Matilda and Sarah M.  His eldest child, William, died at the age of fourteen years.  His wife died in July, 1865, aged forty-two years, and he was again married Jan. 31, 1867, to Mrs. Minerva (Brown) Kirkpatrick.  They have had four children - Rebecca L., Bertie A., William W. and Ganes Carr.  his wife is a member of the Protestant Methodist church.  He belongs to the Free-Will Baptist church, and in politics is a Republican.

     Jahiel Graham, son of John and Catherine (Rickabaw) Graham, was born in Jackson County, near where he resides at present, Apr. 29, 1819.  He lived with his parents till twenty-two years old and helped clear the farm from an unbroken forest, experiencing all the privations of pioneer life.  At the age of sixteen years he and two brothers worked at the Clinton Furnace.  He was employed about public works till 1839, when he worked at the Jackson Furnace nearly two years, and part of the time worked on lands he had previously purchased.  In 1840 to went to New Orleans and spent the winter chopping wood in the State of Mississippi.  He returned home in the spring of 1841 and worked on his farm till 1853.  He then removed to the farm entered by his father, where he has since resided.  He was married Oct. 28, 1841, to Rebecca, daughter of Hugh and Rebecca (Martin) Gilliland.  Her father came to Ohio in an early day, and died in 1859, aged seventy-two years.  Her mother is in her ninety-second year.  Nine children were born to this union, eight of whom are living - Emeline (wife of John H. Lloyd), Nathan, Caroline (wife of John Brady, of Missouri), Johnson, Warren, Rebecca J.  (wife of John Henson), Willis L., Elmira (wife of A. Q. Parks), James M. died when one year old).  He and wife are members of the Christian church.  He served three years as Township Trustee.  He was originally a Whig but is now an adherent of the Republican party.  His first vote was cast for Zachary Taylor.  His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and settled where the town of Jackson now stands.  They afterward located in Jackson and engaged in the manufacture of salt a number of years, after which he settled on Congress land on section 30 in 1812.  He served in the war of 1812.  In 1817 he entered a quarter section of land on section 35, where our subject was born.

     Thomas Hays, eldest son of Thomas and Nancy (Bonun) Hayes, was born in Jackson County, June 30, 1842.  He lived at home till manhood and attended the common schools until seventeen years of age, after which he spent two terms at the Jackson Academy and the two following winters attended the common schools.  At the age of twenty years he began teaching school and taught through the winter and farmed during the summer seasons for eleven years, with the exception of 1867, when he was employed as salesman in the Star Furnace store for a year.  Since 1874 he has devoted his time to farming, at which he has been very successful.  He was married Mar. 19, 1874, to Margaret J., daughter of Adam and Nancy (Stephenson) Lackey.  Their children are Stella F. and Chalmers G.  He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is Elder.  He is also Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

     Van Buren Johnson, son of Samuel R. and Susan (Ward) Johnson was born Jan. 23, 1833, in Jackson County.  He was reared a farmer and acquired a liberal education at the common schools and by private study.  He worked at furnaces till he was twenty-five years old, after which he engaged in farming for three years in Franklin and Bloomfield Townships.  In 1859 he purchased his pres-

[Pg. 603]
ent farm and located on it in 1860, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising.  May 2, 1864, he enlisted as Second Lieutenant of Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-second Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and served on duty at Gallipolis, Ohio, and Charleston, W. Va., guarding Government stores and transports on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers.  He was discharged at Gallipolis, Sept. 2, 1864.  He was married Jan. 18, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Arthur and Jane (Stephenson) McClure.  They have had twelve children, seven of whom are living - Asa O., Van Buren E., Morton M., Clara A., Elizabeth M., Amy M. and Edwin S.  Those deceased are - Samuel A., Emma J., William M., Marga C. and John H.  He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is Trustee.  He is Steward of the Beaver Circuit.  Portsmouth District of the Ohio Conference.  He was elected Commissioner of Jackson County in 1872 and served till 1878, having been re0elected in 1875.  The County Infirmary was erected under his supervision as one of the Board of Commissioners.  He is a member of Lodge No., 465, A. F. & A. M., Lucasville, Scioto Co., Ohio.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

     Franklin Township organized in 1816, was one of the three original townships, and the first one which had its name and bounds described by the county commissioners.  It covered at that time about one-third of the county, being most of the south and southwestern portions.  There were quite a number of townships made at the second term of county commissioners' court, June, 1816, and some of them cut seriously into the territory of Franklin.  These new townships caused the citizens of Franklin to look after their boundary line and a petition was presented by the inhabitants of the township asking that said township remain incorporated under its old name, and to have its bounds as follows:
     "Beginning at the northeast corner of section 1, in township 6, range 18, and running south along the said range line to the southeast corner of section 36, in township 6, range 18; thence west to the northeast corner of section3, township 5, range 18; thence south with section line to the county line; thence west along said line to the southwest corner of section 36, in township 5, of range 19; thence north along the section line to the northwest corner of section 1, in township 6, of range 19; thence east to the place of beginning."
     This petition was presented July 16, 1816, and granted by the commissioners.  According to these boundaries the original township of Franklin contained the whole of the present township, two thirds of Jefferson and six sections each from the east side of Scioto and Hamilton townships, which made it exactly the size of two congressional townships.

SURFACE AND MINERALS.

[Pg. 604]

THE OLD PIONEER.

     Its old settlers were a hardy race of pioneers and among the number of those who settled in the township were: David Sheward, Samuel Traxler, Levi Mercer, Jacob Wishow, John Strapes, Hugh Gilliland, Jno. Burnside, Jacob Shoemaker, Wm. Buckley, Joseph Westlake, Peter Bunn, Nottingham Mercer, Samuel Bunn, Thomas Craig, Jacob Shellenger, Ezekiel Boggs, Ezekiel Masters, C. Karr, John Lackey, George Gaught, Silas Lake, Abijah Dawson, Wm. Clark, James Dawson, Joseph Baker, Joseph Mercer, Sr., Joseph Mercer, Jr., Daniel Spriggs and J. J. Evans.
     Among many who are still living are found Samuel Claar, J. R. Meacham, Pete McCain, Jacob Jacobs, Daniel Harrel, Captain James Johnson, Wm. H. Cherington, Job Buckley, Evan Evans, Morgan Morgan, Benjamin Callaghan, John Wilson, Armstead Scurlock.  These and others within the township can look back to the time when it was in reality a wilderness, and through their labor and that of their neighbors the troubles and trials of pioneer life have been swept away and the latter part of the nineteenth century proves as cheerful, pleasant and prosperous as its early days were filled with poverty and discomfort.
     Mr. Peter McCain and wife are the oldest married couple in the township, having been married on May 11, 1823.  They both bid fair to live many years yet.  They have had fourteen children.  The first mill erected and run by water power in Franklin Township was put up by Emanuel Traxler, in 1816.  The next mill built was by Jacob Worsham; both of these mills were on what was called four mile Run.  This last mill was put up in 1822.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

     Mt. Zion M. E. Church,

     The Church of Christ

[Pg. 605]

     The Freedom Christian Church

     The Franklin Valley Methodist Episcopal

     Antioch Christian Church

     There are nine school districts in the township, numbered and named as follows:
     Sub-district No. 1, Hale School;
     Sub-district No. 2, Buckley School;
     Sub-district No. 3, Spriggs School;
     Sub-district No. 4, Chestnut Grove School;
     Sub-district No. 5, The Four-mile School;
     Sub-district No. 6, Franklin Township School-house;
     Sub-district No. 7, Franklin Valley School;
     Sub-district No. 8, the Cross Roads School;
     Joint Sub-district No. 11, the Brick School.

     There is a store and a postoffice, the latter called Banner Postoffice, J. W. Vaughn, Postmaster, and John Keller, a blacksmith shop.  It is at Vaughn's Station.  At Irwin's Station Mr. Baldwin Evans, has a general store, and is the Postmaster at this time, and at Clay Station, George W. Johnson is Postmaster and station agent.  George Rubert keeps a

[Pg. 606]
general store, and David Jones the blacksmith shop.  Keystone Switch is a flag station.

     The Franklin Grange, No. 1,193, was organized in 1875 with fourteen members.  The following were the officers of the lodge:
     Master, James Hayes; Overseer, Abraham Karr; Secretary, Lancelot Campbell; Treasurer, John Hixton; Elector, E. W. Jacobs; Chaplin, Jacob Jacobs; Steward, Reuben Farrar; Lady Assistant Steward, Miss Theresa Jacobs; Ceres, Miss Ruth Hixon; Flora, Miss Lucy Hawkins; Pomona, Miss Gelina Farrar; Gate-Keeper, Christian Hawkins.  At present the lodge has about thirty-six members, and the officers now are as follows:  O. N. Perkins, Master; Abraham Karr, Overseer; Reuben Farrar, Secretary; Miss Emma Jacobs, Treasurer; A. Q. Parks, Elector; Mrs. Rachel Campbell, Chaplain; Jacob Jacobs, Steward; Ezekiel Masters, Assistant Steward; Miss Margaret Stephenson, Lady Assistant Steward; Jackson Malony, Gate-Keeper; Mrs. Catheline Lyons, Ceres; Mrs. Drucilla Malony, Flora; Mrs. Lettice Karr Pomona.  The lodge room is located on the eastern central portion of section 19, on the farm of Jacob Jacobs.  The grange owns the lodge room, which is a substantial frame building.

[Pg. 606]
general store, and David Jones the blacksmith shop.  Keystone Switch is a flag station.

     The Franklin Grange, No. 1,193,

BOUNDS, AREA AND WEALTH.

     Franklin Township is bounded on the north by Lick Township, on the east by Bloomfield and Madison, south by Jefferson, and west by Scioto.  It is a congressional township of six miles square, with a land area of 23,040 acres, and is assessed for 13,146 acres.  Its personal property in 1880 was valued at $183,559, and it has rapidly increased since.  Its real estate in 1882 was valued at $243,881; personal property, $202,724; total, $446,605.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1842, 1860, 1883

1842

     Trustees, George Newell, Thomas Alexander and John Farrar; Treasurer, Mordecai McClung; Clerk, Samuel R. Johnson; Assessor, Samuel Carrick; Constables, Joshua E. Stephenson, Richard Daniels and Samuel Gray; Justices of the Peace, Joseph Spriggs and George W. Hale.

1860.

     Trustees, John Ward, Job Buckley and W. S. Schellenger; Treasurer, Sam'l. Claar; Clerk, John D. Davis; Assessor, Jacob A. Claar; Constables, W. W. Backley, Uriah Titus and Vinton Spriggs; Justices of the Peace, Wm. H. Cherington, W. D. Higgins and Joseph Spriggs.

1883.

     Trustees, D. B. Harrel, Peter Radclift and George H. Downs; Treasurer, Wm. Claar; Clerk, Wm. Schellenger; Assessor, Wm. H. Brunton; Constables, Samuel J. Brown and Daniel C. Spriggs; Justices of the Peace, Armstead Scurlock and Joseph J. Spriggs.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

~ Page 607
Furnace until October, 1882, and prepared himself for the teacher's profession at the Oak Hill Academy, and is at present teaching school at Glade, Jackson County.

     Mrs. Emily Brady, daughter of David and Rachel (Virgin) Enslow, was born in Pennsylvania, Mar. 19, 1801.  Her parents settled in Muskingum County when she was an infant.  Her father served as Captain in the war of 1812, after which the family moved to Scioto County, settling where Wheelersburg now stands.  She lived with her parents till she was twenty-five years old, helping with the housework and working on the farm.  July 4, 1825, she was married to Levi Brady who died Jan. 5, 1862, aged sixty-five years.  He was a boatman on the Ohio River, and while he was away she would do the farm work.  Her father-in-law, William Brady, built the first house where the city of Portsmouth is located.  Of the thirteen children born to them twelve are living - King D., Thomas J., Samuel W., Levi, Caroline (wife of Daniel Underwood), Robert K., William H., Mary E. (wife of Rev. J. B. Tracy); John T. (Captain in late war), Reason E., Emily, (wife of Henry Adrian) and Ornamenta C. (wife of John Zing).  The second son, Thomas, died at the age of three years.  All the sons belong to the Republican party.  Mrs. Brady is widely known as a successful physician - especially in the cure of cancers.  She joined the Baptist, of which she is still a member.
~ Page 607

     Thomas Jefferson Brady, second son of Levi and Emily Brady, was born in Scioto County, Aug. 20, 1829.  He lived on the home farm till his twenty-first year, and attended the common schools.  At that age he began burning charcoal, which he followed till 1851.  He then went to California and engaged in mining till the fall of 1853, when he returned to Scioto County and again engaged in the coal business.  He was Assistant Superintendent of the Bloom Furnace in Scioto County, and Manager of the Diamond Furnace, near Jackson, two years, the Orange Furnace one year, the Fulton Furnace for the same length of time.  He then superintended the Charlotte Furnace, in Carter County, Ky., four and a half years.  He then returned to his farm in Jackson County, where he is at present engaged in farming.  Feb. 2, 1856, he was married to Margaret, daughter of Smith and Mary (Varian) Stephenson.  Five children have been born to them, four of whom are living - Robert K., Albert S., Eva and Charlie.  His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  She died April, 1871. Mr. Brady has held the office of Trustee of Franklin Township two years.
~ Page 607

     Harmon Bunn, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Jackson County, near his present residence, Nov. 12, 1846.  His father, Samuel Bunn, was a native of Maryland, but reared in Greenbrier County, Va., and came to Ohio in 1800.  He married Elizabeth Nelson, a native of Kentucky, who came to Gallia County when seven years old, and in 1812 came to Jackson County.  Our subject was reared a farmer and attended the common schools.  He has managed the farm since his father's death, which occurred in 1865, at the age of eighty-two.  He has had the care of his mother since, who is still living.  May 14, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio National Guards, and was on duty at Gallipolis, guarding Government stores and transports on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers.  He was discharged Sept. 14, 1864, when he returned home, since when he has been improving his farm and dealing in stock.  He was married Dec. 26,1866, to Esther M. daughter of Thomas Frasure, by whom he has had six children, of whom four are living - Ira E., Getty E., Blanche and Benny.  Ernest H. and Maud both died at the age of two years.

~ Page 608

     Henry Clay Bunn, farmer and dealer in stock, is the third son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Nelson) Bunn.  He was born in Jackson County, June 1, 1827, and lived on the home farm till he reached his majority, and received a liberal education at the subscription schools.  At the age of twenty-one he began farming for himself, and in 1854, he with his brother Harvey and others constructed a merchants' grist-mill in Jackson, to which they afterward added a woolen mill.  The business was conducted under the firm name of Bunn, Walterhouse & Bunn Bros.  They also had a dry-goods store in connection with the general business.  The business continued till 1870.  In 1867 he and his brother Harvey purchased interests in the Fulton Iron Furnace, and in 1870 became sole proprietors, and in 1873 sold his interest.  During the years he was in business he devoted his time to his farm and stock, in which he is still engaged.  May 4, 1856, he was married to Millie A., daughter of Major George W. and Mary (McCall) Hale.  They have three children living - Howard S., Charles and Jessie.  Myra B. died at the age of three years.

     Peter Bunn, farmer and stock-dealer, is the eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Nelson) Bunn.  His father was a native of Maryland, but reared in Virginia.  He came to Jackson County in 1800, and engaged in the manufacture of salt for a number of years.  At an early age he purchased land and began dealing in cattle, becoming an extensive land owner.  He was in the war of 1812.  Peter Bunn, at the age of twenty-one years, began his present business, in which he has met with success.  Oct. 17, 1864, he enlisted in the Second Independent Battery, Ohio National Guards, guarding prisoner of war.  Dec. 22, 1853, he was discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, and returned home.  He was married in September, 1842, to Maria, daughter of Thomas Frasure.  Three daughters have blessed this union - Elizabeth, wife of William Schellenger; Frank, wife of John Price, of Jackson; Josephine, wife of Edward Swanson.  His wife died at the age of forty-seven years, Oct. 26, 1865.  He was again married Sept. 14, 1866, to Nancy J., daughter of Annas and Martha J. (Keer) Swanson.  They have been blessed with three children - Althea M., Peter H. and Carrie E.  He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church, of which he is Deacon, Trustee and Treasurer.  He has filled the office of Treasurer of Franklin Township twelve years.  In 1874, at the opening of the County Infirmary, he was elected a Director of that institution.  He has been re-elected twice, and is still filling that position.

     Abraham D. Edwards, farmer and dealer in stock, is the third son of David and Hannah (Evans) Edwards.  His parents emigrated from North Wales to the United States, and settled in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1839, where our subject was born Mar. 12, 1941.  He lived there on a farm till he was nineteen years old.  He was educated in the common schools, and spent some time in his father's grist-mill.  He first began business for himself as a teamster during the late war,  when he was engaged with the army in West Virginia during the winter of 1862.  He spent the summer of 1863 in his father's grist-mill, and the following winter he was with the Army of the Cumberland, as a teamster.  He returned home in the spring of 1865, and engaged in milling with his father till 1866, since when he has been successfully engaged in his present business.  Dec. 19, 1865, he was married to Nancy J., daughter of J. C. and Lucinda Cremeens.  They have had three children.  Josiah D. and Hannah R. are living.  Willie O. died when two years old.  He

[Pg. 609]
and wife are members of the Methodist church, and he is a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., Jackson, Ohio.

     Baldwin Brazee Evans, dealer in dry-goods, groceries, hardware and general merchandise, at Irwin Station, Jackson County, was born in Jackson County, Aug. 22, 1835.  He lived on the farm with his parents, Evan and Polly B. (Cherington) Evans, until manhood, and was educated at the common schools.  At the age of nineteen he began teaching school, and was engaged in teaching during the winter and working on the farm with his father during the summer till he was twenty-five years old, when he established his present business.  He has been Postmaster at Cambria since the office was established, and has also been agent for the C., W. & B. Railroad Company, and also for the Express Company since 1868.  He was elected Auditor of Jackson County in 1880 and is still holding that office.  He was married July 18, 1861, to Sarah J., daughter of Job and Rebecca (McClure) Buckley.  They have a family of five children - Corella, Albert V., Leonora, Herbert C. and Walter R.  Mr. Evans and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

     Evan Evans, eldest son of Evan and Susannah (Jones) Evans, was born in North Wales, June 19, 1814, and when three years old came with his parents to the United States.  They settled in Gallia County, Ohio, where he worked on the farm and attended the common schools.  When twenty-one years old he purchased some uncultivated land which he cleared, and is still residing there,  engaged in farming.  Oct. 9, 1834, he was married to Polly B., daughter of Thomas and Sarah Cherington, of Gallia County.  Twelve children were born to them, of whom eight are living - Baldwin B., Clinton D., Wellington C., Timothy J., S. E., R. R., Thomas J. and Minnie.  Those deceased are - Susan, Sarah A., Susan J. and Mary A.  He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he as served as Steward a number of years.

     William Henry Handley, farmer and blacksmith, was born in Cabell County, W. Va., Sept. 20, 1836.  He is the eldest son of Sampson and Susan W. (Billups) Handley, and early learned the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop, who followed that avocation.  He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two years he began to receive wages from his father, with whom he worked a year.  He then established a shop of his own where he worked at his trade and was Postmaster of the office at Thorndike until 1862.  He was a Union man, and when the Postmaster-General of the Confederacy ordered him to make his official reports to the Confederate States he said he knew so such Government and immediately came to Ohio and made his report, returning his postal paper to the proper authorities at Washington.  He was married Nov. 8, 1859, to Melinda A., daughter of Moses and Mary J. (Garrett) Cremeens, of Cabell County.  They have had nine children, five of whom are living - May P., Albert W., Julia J., Nora I. and Arthur M.  Sampson E. died at the age of fifteen; Addie and Olga died in infancy, and Jennie A. when two years old.  Mr. Handley and wife are members of the Methodist church.  He has served as Trustee of Franklin Township three terms and has taken an active interest in the management of the schools in his district.

     Deming Hoskins, farmer and stock-raiser, Franklin Township, is the eldest son of Job and Mary (Donald) Hoskins.  He was born in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, Oct. 31, 1831, and when a boy his parents removed to Pickaway County, where he lived on a farm and attended the common schools.  At the age of twenty-one he began farming in Pickaway County, where he lived till the spring of 1876.  He then rented a farm in Jackson County and dealt in stock till the spring of 1880, when

[Pg. 610]
he purchased the farm where he now resides.  Oct. 4, 1866, he was married to Emma, daughter of Wilson and Martha (Poor) Dickerson, of Jackson County.  They have had five children, of whom four are living - Homer, Eddie D., Harry and Lena.  Their eldest daughter, Birsel, died when ten years of age.  Mr. Hoskins and wife are members of the Methodist church.

     Samuel Harrison Johnson, son of Samuel R. and Susan (Ward) Johnson, was born Apr. 30, 1839, in Franklin Township, Jackson County, near his present residence, Sept. 15, 1862, he enlisted as a private to serve three years, in Company G, Seventh Ohio Cavalry.  He was engaged in the battle of Crab Orchard, Ky., in March, 1863, after which his company was detailed as body-guard under General Gilmore in the Twenty-third Army Corps.  He was on duty during the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., after which he was confined in the hospital with small pox until June, 1864.  He then rejoined his company and went with Sherman to Marietta, Ga., and was present at the capture of Atlanta.  He participated in a number of important battles and was discharged at Raleigh, June 12, 1865, after which he returned home where he has since followed the avocation of a farmer.  Oct. 28, 186, he was married to Lottie A., daughter of J. W. and Emily (Burris) McClure, of Jackson County.  They have one son - Willie Elmer.  Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Methodist church.  Mr. Johnson is a member of Lodge No. 132, A. F. & A. M., and of Chapter No. 70, R. A. M., of Jackson, Ohio.

     Lorenzo Wilson Kinnison was born July 13, 1834, in Jackson County.  He was reared by his grandparents, Charles and Elizabeth Kennison, who came to Ohio from Greenbrier County, Va., in an early day.  He worked on the farm and attended the country schools until he was nineteen years old when he, in partnership with S. W. Spencer, opened a grocery and notion store at Berlin, Jackson County, the firm name being Spencer & Kinnison.  After a short time he sold out his interest and farmed one year with his uncle, A. J. Kinnison.  The following winter he taught school and in the spring again became Mr. Spencer's partner in the general merchandise trade.  After being thus engaged eighteen months he sold his interest and for a short time clerked in a store.  During the summers of 1857-'58 he worked on the farm, teaching school during the winter months.  In the spring of 1859 he removed to his farm and began experimenting in the plant propagation.  May 4, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-second National Guards, and was on duty at Gallipolis, Ohio, guarding Government stores and transports until Sept. 15, 1864, when he was discharged and returned home, and in 1865 began making plant propagation a specialty.  He has steadily increased his business till he now has beds of sweet potatoes covering from 6,000 to 7,000 feet of surface and supplies Jackson, Pike, Scioto and Vinton counties and other localities.  He produces plants by the millions each season.  He raises other vegetables and also house and foliage plants to which he gives his entire time during the plant season.  He was married May 20, 1858, to Mary A., daughter of William H. and Eleanor (Williams) Cherington  Seven children were born to them, five of whom are living - Icephine O., wife of Isaac F Barton; Ulysses L., Ira E. William L. and Ernest E.  Elden E. E. died at the age of nine years and Carrie E. aged four years.  Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  He is an active worker in the Sabbath-school and a strong supporter of the temperance cause.  He has served as Clerk of his township and held the office of Township Trustee two terms.

     George Washington Lake, third son of Silas and Eliza (Schellenger) Lake was born in Jackson County, Feb. 13, 1825.  His father,

[Pg. 611]
a native of New York State, was of English descent, and his mother was born in New Jersey, of German descent.  They were the first settlers of Jackson County, where our subject grew to maturity and was educated in the common-schools.  He was engaged in farming till 1864, when in November of that year he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry, as a private for one year.  While fighting before Richmond he received injuries from which he never recovered.  He was at the siege and capture of Petersburg, and was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.  During the summer of 1865 he was stationed at Hanover Court-House, Va., and Nov. 1, 1865, he was discharged at Louisa Court-House, Va., when he returned home and has since been engaged in farming.  In 1854 he was elected Township Trustee and served one term.  He was married Mar. 12, 1852, to Susannah, daughter of George and Margaret (Stephenson) Newell of Jackson County.  They have had eight children of whom seven survive - Eliza E., George N., Margaret A. (wife of Bishop Gragg, of Kansas), Flora J., Eleanor E., Oliver C. and Charles W.  William J. died when one year old.  Mr. Lake is a believer in the doctrines of Swedenborg, and his wife is a member of the Christian church.

     James Mayhew, farmer and stock-raiser, is the eldest son of Hiram and Elizabeth (Wilson) Mayhew.  He was born in Washington County, Pa., Jan. 2, 1838, where he lived till he was seventeen years old, being reared a farmer and attending the common schools.  In 1855 he removed with his parents to Jackson County, Ohio.  At the age of twenty-two he entered into business with his father, who was a carpenter, and they constructed many buildings and bridges in the county besides contracting and furnishing large amounts of timber for railroad bridges, etc.  He is still engaged as a contractor in connection with his farming operations, and through industry and economy has become a well-to-do citizen.  In politics he is a Republican, and has served as Township Trustee three terms.  His first vote was cast for President Lincoln.  He enlisted in the late war May 14, 1864, and was First Sergeant of Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio National Guards.  He was on duty at Gallipolis guarding Government stores and transports on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, and received his discharge Sept. 15, 1864.  He was married to Ira N., daughter of Henry and Hannah Howe, of Jackson County, by whom he has had five children - Ida T., Franklin, Inez S., Charles and Ernest.

     Allison James Nelson, third son of Oliver J. and Martha Nelson was born in Jackson County, Jan. 15, 1853.  His father died in the late war, and our subject lived with and cared for his mother till her death, which occurred when he was nineteen years of age.  He then began working on the farm of L. W. Kinnison, with whom he continued seven years.  During that time he purchased the farm where he now resides, on which he located in 1879.  He is a progressive business man and has won the confidence of his fellow-citizens, who have elected him Trustee of the township.  Dec. 29, 1878, he was married to Mollie C., daughter of Hamby and Lucinda Barton.  They have been blessed with two sons - Roy B. and Dwight B.  Mr. Nelson and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

     George Rupert,

[Pg. 612]

     Charles Warren Schellenger,

     Armpstead Scurlock,

     Rev. Joseph J. Spriggs, second son of Joseph and Rebecca (Bond) Spriggs, was born Mar. 1, 1827, in Jackson County, near his present residence.  His grandparents came from Pennsylvania to Belmont County in an early day, and his father, after living a short time in Kentucky, came to Ohio, and entered the land where our subject resides, in 1818.  He received a common-school education and assisted his father in clearing lands and by working on the farm till he was twenty-two years old.  He was then apprenticed to Andrew Robb to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served three years, after which he was engaged in farming.  He joined the Christian church at the age of fifteen years, and when thirty years of age became an ordained preacher of that denomination and has been preaching ever since, his sons working

[Pg. 613]
the farm.  He has held the office of Justice of the Peace eleven years, and has served one term as Township Trustee.  He was married, July 26, 1850, to Elizabeth, daughter of Joel and Louisa (Morgan) Reynolds, by whom he had seven children, of whom four are living - Joseph M., Mary C. (wife of John Davis), Sarah E. and Benjamin F., all living in Jackson County.  Isabel died at the age of eighteen years; Eliza died in infancy, and Rebecca J. when twenty-eight years old.  His wife died in 1868, aged thirty-six years, and in November, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Nancy S. Dupre, daughter of Adriel and Anna (Price) Huntly of Gallia County.

     Vinton Spriggs was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, June 19, 1830, and is the eldest son of Daniel and Maria (Fitsmorris) Spriggs, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively.  He was four years old when his parents removed to Jackson County, where he was reared on Symmes Creek and attended teh common schools, and is now one of the best read men in his community.  He began teaming at furnaces when twenty-one years old, and followed this occupation two years.  He then engaged in farming and carpentering till 1862, when he was engaged as post teamster in the late war, and was at Point Pleasant until January, 1863.  He received injuries at that place which caused him to return home.  In the summer of 1863 he assisted in raising a company, and in May, 1864, was mustered into the United States service, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio National Guards as a Corporal to serve 100 days.  He was on guard duty at Gallipolis, where he was discharged, Sept. 15, 1864, then enlisted as a private for one year in Company A, Sixty-Second Ohio Infantry.  He participated in Several battles and received his discharge at Richmond, Va., June 27, 1865.  He then resumed his former occupation and has also been engaged in mining iron ore on his farm.  Mar. 19, 1852, he was married to Florina, daughter of Moses and Sallie (Clerk) Dawson.  Their children are nine in number - William H. Alexander S., Josephine (wife of Philip Gilliland), Daniel W., Moses T., Edward C., Crayton R., Vinton F. and Phil Sheridan.  He and wife are members of the Christian church, and he has been a zealous worker for the Republican party since its organization.

     William Henry Steele,

     James W. Vaughn,

[Pg. 614]

     William Ross Watts,