MILTON TOWNSHIP.

     Milton was one of the three original townships of Jackson County, the other two being Lick and Franklin.  In July, 1816, the inhabitants petitioned the county commissioners that the township be reduced to and remain co-extensive with congressional township 9, range 17.  The additional tier of sections on the north, belonging to township 10, was added afterward.  This addition of six sections gives the township a surface of forty-two square miles - 26,880 acres.
     With reference to Jackson County, this township occupies the northeastern corner, although Washington Township extends two and one-half miles further north on the west.  It is bounded on the north by Clinton Township, Vinton County; east by Wilkesville Township, Vinton County; south by Bloomfield Township, and west by Lick, Coal and Washington townships.

TOPOGRAPHY.

SETTLEMENT.

     This was one of the earliest settled townships in the county, although at the first assessment for taxation, in 1816, it ranked the lowest in taxable property.  The first Lister was Joshua Scurlock.  In 1817 Joseph Crouch was  Lister; tax assessed, $39.50.  In 1818 Henry Jones was Lister; tax, $43.50.  In 1825 the township polled sixty-six votes.  At the present time the township polls about 1,000 votes.

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     Population in 1840, 912; in 1850, 1,472; in 1860, 2,367; in 1870, 2,372; in 1880, 3,404.

SCHOOLS.

     The township has 879 pupils and thirteen public schools.  The average price paid to teachers is about $40 a month.  The attendance is about the same as in other parts of the county, and the schools rank about with the average.

FURNACES.

     Buckeye Furnace

     Cornelia Furnace

     Latrobe Furnace

     Milton Furnace

     Wellston Furnace

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began the operation of coal miens in 1881 and are now putting out about ten car loads a day besides the sixty-two tons consumed daily by the furnace.

     Eliza Furnace

WELLSTON.

POSTOFFICE.

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CHURCHES.

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SOCIETIES.

     Lodge No. 701, I. O. O. F.,

     Wellston Lodge, No. 170, K. of P.,

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sentative to Grand Lodge, F. W. Evans.  The lodge starts out with a fine list of officers and nineteen members.

NEWSPAPER.

     Welston Argus -

PROFESSIONS.

     The practicing physicians at Wellston are Drs. G. L. Monahan, W. J. Jones, Wm. Sylvester and E. B. Merrill; lawyers, E. B. Bingham and M. T. Vanpelt.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

     A stranger approaching Wellston would be at once attracted by the din and stir of its active business.  The active work about the coal mines and the seething and rattling noise of the furnace and its machinery is ever present to the ears of the inhabitants.  The most extensive business is that of the furnace, described in another place.

     The Theo. Fluhart & Co. Limited Coal Works.

     Planing Mill and Lumber Yard. -

STORES.

     The following are the mercantile houses doing business at the present time:       J. G. Vandervort, dry goods;
     Atkinson & Evans, dry goods;
     R. W. Goddard, general store;
     M. W. Mills groceries;
     Evans Bros., groceries;
     Harper & McCartney, groceries;
     J. H. Roop tin and hardware;
     Johnson & Co., hardware;
     W. J. Jones drugs;
     A. Brooks, drugs;
     J. W. Patridge jewelry;
     H. T. Stoneburner, stationery and books;
     C. M. Richards, furniture;
     A. Hobt, saddles, etc.;
     M. Remby bakery and restaurant;
     Mrs. L. E. Roop and

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     Mrs. Jones, millinery;
     J. B. Payne and Frank Kelly, meat shops;
     F. F. Swanson machine agent.
     Besides the above are the supply stores of the furnace and coal companies.
     Their are two hotels in Wellston, the Walker House & Bundy House.

      The Walker House was built in 1874, by J. C. Elliot, at a cost of about $3,600.  It was run a while by Mr. Elliot, then by Mr. Jeffreys, then by Dr. Monahan.  In 1879, A. B. Walker, bought the house and still runs it.

     The Bundy House was built by Harvy Wells at a cost of $10,000 and afterward bought by Hon. H. S. Bundy.  In 1883 it was rented by John Glanville, who now runs it successfully.

BERLIN.

     This little hamlet, formerly known as Berlin Cross-Roads, has been in existence since 1842.  It is situated in the western part of the township, at the crossing of the C., W. & B. and T., C. & St. L. railroads.  The plat was made by Charles Kinnison on what was then known as the Kinnison farm.  The first house erected was that of J. E. Whitman for a dwelling and store.  The number of inhabitants grew to about 200, at which it has remained with slight variations for a great many years.  There are at present three stores, a postoffice, church and one physician in the village.

     The M. E. Churchat this place was established in 1854, with but a very small congregation, but it became strong enough in the following year to build their present fine church building, which cost about $2,000.  The congregation now numbers about fifty members.  Trustees at present; Henry Kissenger, David McGiffin, M. C. Keenan, Dr. Sylvester and Wilson Hawk; pastor, Rev. L. L. Magee.

MIDDLETON.

     This hamlet, though smaller, is older than Berlin.  It was laid out as early as 1827 by Oliver Tison and consisted of only a few lots.  In early times the location was a collecting place for travelers, being near a mill known as the Dawkins Mill.
     The town is about midway between Jackson and Wilkesville, hence was called for many years, Middle-town.  The office retains the name of hte old mill, being Dawkins Mills Postoffice.  In 1870 the census returns showed a population of seventy-one in Middleton.  The number has remained about stationary since that time.  Middleton is situated very near the center of MIlton Township.

     Salem Church

     Mt. Carmel U. B. Church. -

BIOGRAPHICAL

      A. A. Austin, farmer and dealer in stock was born in Jackson County, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1836, a son of William and Sarah (Irwin) Austin who were natives of Maryland and of

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English descent.  He received his education at the public schools of his native county till fourteen years of age, after which he went to school at Madison, Ind., and after a time entered Marietta College, which he attended one year.  He then attended the Ohio University two years and graduated in December, 1856.  He then dealt in real estate in New Orleans till the following spring.  He enlisted in 1863, in Company h, Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and was captured and held prisoner for a time at Harper's Ferry, and was then paroled.  Soon after he was commissioned First Lieutenant of the Ninety-first Ohio Infantry, and served till he was mustered out at Delaware, Ohio.  He then engaged in farming and dealing in stock, and has at present 160 acres of land near Berlin.  He was married in September, 1864, to Mary Montgomery, a native of Ireland.  They have had nine children, of whom seven are living - Irwin M., Charles H., William A., Robert D., Benjamin G., John C. and Agnes S.  David L. and Francis R. are deceased.  Mr. Austin is now United States Storekeeper of the Eleventh District of Ohio.  HE is a member of Mineral Lodge, No. 701, A. F. & A. M., and is a charter member of Colonel Dove Post, G. A. R.

      E. B. Bingham was born Aug. 26, 1844, in Morgan County, Ohio, and is a son of Solomon and Susannah (Weeks) Bingham.  He worked on the farm till he was eighteen year old, and attended the schools during the winter months.  Sept. 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Ohio Cavalry, under Captain John A. Ashberry, and was in the battle of Somerset, Ky., and in the siege of Knoxville, Tenn.  After serving over a year he was appointed Mail Carrier for the Department of the Ohio, which position he held till he was mustered out July 9, 1865.  He then farmed three summers and attended school in the winters, and afterward taught in the public schools.  In 1870 he began the study of law in connection with his duties as a teacher, and was admitted to the bar at Ironton, Ohio, Apr. 22, 1873.  He immediately began the practice of law at Wellston, and is now known as one of the leading attorneys of the county.  He was elected Justice of the Peace of Milton Township, Jan. 1, 1879, and re-elected Jan. 1, 1882, for a term of three years.  He is at present Mayor of Wellston, having been elected Apr. 2, 1883.  He was married Sept. 16, 1869, to Susan M., daughter of D. D. and C. A. Evans, of Wellston.  Their children are - Eadfred, Loueva and Cara G.  Freddie M. died at the age of seven months.  Mr. and Mrs. Bingham are members of the Methodist church, of Wellston, he being Trustee and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.  He was elected a member at the School Board in 1883 for a term of three years.  In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.  He is a member of I. O. O. F. fraternity, No. 101, at Wellston, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.  His grandfather came from Vermont and settled in what was then Guernsey County, now Noble County, in an early day.  His mother died in 1881, aged seventy-one years.

     L. H. Bingham, a son of Solomon and Susannah Bingham, was born Apr. 13, 1846, in Milton Township, Jackson Co., Ohio.  His grandfather came from Vermont in an early day and was one of the early settlers of Southern Ohio, where he made a good farm out of the wilderness.  Our subject's educational advantages were limited, he being able to attend school only a few months during the winter and afterward attended the Ewington Academy in Gallia County, Ohio.  He worked on a farm till he was seventeen years old, when he enlisted June 23, 1863, in Company H, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, under Captain W. J. Evans.  He served till he was mustered out July 29, 1869, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Rufus and Lucinda White.  They have had six children, of whom

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five are living - Mary L., Annie M., Algeria G., Rufus E. and Linnie M.  William L. died at the age of two months.  Mr. Bingham and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church about seventeen years.  He was elected Clerk of the Corporation in 1878 and served two and a half years.  Apr. 1, 1879, he was appointed Postmaster and still holds that position.

     Rufus Braley,

     Albert Brooks,

     Hon. H. S. Bundy,

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     J. A. Calhoun,

     Henry Camink,

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     J. C. H. Cobb

     W. L. Evans,

     Robert Fitzpatrick,

     Theodore Fluhart

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     John Glanville,

     Joseph Gooding,

     Rev. C. L. Haddox,

     Wilson Hawk

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     S. W. Henry, M. D.,

     John Hollingshead,

     Robert Hoop,

     William J. Jones, M. D., was born Apr. 18, 1841, in Wales.  He was left an orphan at an early age, and in December, 1852, came with his brothers to America, settling in Alleghany County, Md., where he lived till the spring of 1861.  He then went to Pennsylvania and enlisted as a private in the fifteenth United States Infantry, and was soon after commissioned to act as Quartermaster Sergeant, holding that position until he was mustered out of the service May 5, 1863, at Memphis, Tenn.  He went to Nelsonville, Ohio, in 1864, and moved to Charleston, W. Va., in 1865, where he began the study of medicine under Dr. Dew.  He returned to Nelsonville in 1866, where he practiced dentistry and studied medicine under Drs. Primrose and Sheppard, and graduated in medicine at the Medical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, March, 1873.  He practiced medicine the following year at Chauncey, Ohio, and moved to New Straitsville in 1874, where he was engaged in active practice about nine years.  He then, in connection with his professional duties, engaged in the drug business at Wellston, Ohio, where he now resides.  In 1867 he was married to Louisa, daughter of John and Caroline Bowers, at Nelsonville.  They have had a family of five children - Willie I., Sylvanus, Allison, Sylvia, and an infant (deceased).  Mr. Jones has been a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, Lodge 503, New Straitsville, about eight years.

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     William J. Kirkendoll,

     H. G. Lasley,

     J. M. Lively,

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     John S. McGhee,

     E. B. Merrill, M. D.,

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     G. L. Monahan, M. D.

     J. O. Patridge,

     J. W. Patridge,

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     William A. Persons,

     Adam Scott,

     F. M. Smallwood,    

     John Stanton,

     William Sylvester,

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     J. G. Vandevot,

     N. T. Vanpelt,

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sion in Wellston, and is at present Solicitor of the Town.  In politics he is a stanch Republican.

     Harvey Wells,

     H. S. Willard,

     W. H. Williams, carpenter and undertaker, was born July 1, 1836, in Meigs County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Jane Williams, who came to Ohio from Virginia in a very early day.  He was reared on a farm and attended the common schools until eighteen years of age, after which he devoted his time to farming.  He enlisted in September, 1862, in Company I, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, and was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and a number of others.  While at Vicksburg he was taken ill, and came home July, 1864.  He remained a couple of months.  He then went to Cincinnati and enlisted in the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, and was mustered out September, 1865.  He was then employed by Hon. H. S. Bundy as superintendent of his farms for a few years, when he moved to Wellston, where he engaged in his present business.  He was married in 1857 to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Huff.  They have five children - Alonzo, Benjamin F., Waldo F., Edward B. and Dora B.  Mr. Williams has been a member of the Town Council four years and a member of the School Board two years.

COAL TOWNSHIP.

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SETTLEMENT.

     The territory now forming Coal Township was, like the remainder of the county, settled by emigrants from Virginia and Pennsylvania, in about 1810 to 1816.  Among the first was the Star family to which Andrew Starr, for many years a well-known citizen, belonged.  The Starr faimly started from Virginia in a wagon in 1809.  On the way the father died and was buried by his children in the unbroken forest.  After this sad halt the family again took up their journey through the boundless wild, frequented on every hand by treacherous Indians and wild beasts.  The first stopping place was at a place known as "Buffalo Skull."  They afterward moved to Middle Fork, and from there to the old Star farm, in Coal Township.  The Winfaugh and Darling families were also among the first settlers.
     Two railroads pass through the township - the T., C. & St. L. and Ohio Southern.  On the line of these roads, between Wellston and Coalton only four miles apart are situated four small villages, which come nearly making one continuous town.  They are crude mining towns, and, outside of their mining interests, of but little importance.  Beginning at Coalton, the metropolis of this mineral township, the first is Altoona, laid out by M. D. Jones; the next is Glen Roy, laid out by Hon. Andrew Roy in May, 1883.  Goldsrow was also laid out in the spring of 1883, and the last, Comet, was laid out by Adam Scott about the same time.

COALTON.

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THE BUSINESS.

THE SCHOOLS.

POSTOFFICE.

     The postoffice, established in 1877, was called Eureka P. O. until 1879, when it was changed to Coalton.  Adam Winfaugh was appointed Postmaster at the establishment of the office, holding it until 1879, when he resigned.  J. H. Wilson was then appointed, and still holds the position.  It was made a money-order office July 1, 1883.

VALUATION.

     The valuation of the special school district real estate is $12,453, and the chattel property at $16,809, for the year 1882.  The landed area of the village is 675 acres, with a chattel property valuation of $52,363, and a real estate valuation of $30,920 for the above named year.

CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.

     The Methodist Episcopal Church

     The Free-Will Baptist Church

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     The Missionary Baptist Church

     The Welsh Methodist Church

     Colonel Dove Post No. 301,

BIOGRAPHICAL.

     J. K. Darling,

     W. M. Drake, M. D.,

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     C. Dungan,

     Rev. D. E. Evans

     Captain T. J. Evans,

     John Hipple,

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     John F. Hull

     Thomas Johns,

     Beverly Keenan

     A. B. Leach,

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     Lorenzo D. Lively,

     Robert C. Lucas,

     Allen McGhee,

     Granville McKinniss

J. H. Brown

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     Milton McKinniss,

     Captain S. D. Morgan

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     James Newport,

     Rev. John A. Oiler,

     Henry Peters,

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     D. D. Phillips

     W. B. Rice

     J. S. Rittenhouse

     Christian Row

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     Andrew Roy,

     B. F. Scott,

     Jacob A. Sell,

      John F. Shook, one of the founders of Coal-

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ton, was born Dec. 1, 1848, in West Virginia, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Shook.  They moved from West Virginia in 1866 to Ohio, and settled where Coalton now stands.  John F. worked on the farm and attended the public schools in the winter till he was about twenty-one years of age, after which he taught school several terms.  In 1874 he entered the Ohio State Normal School, taking a commercial course, and graduating in June, 1875, when he again engaged in teaching, and has followed that profession in all about eight years.  He was married Sept. 5, 1877, to Nannie E., daughter of Granville McKinniss.  They have two children - Mabel P. and Howard.  In 1880 Mr. Shook was appointed census enumerator, and in September, 1881, he engaged in the mercantile business at Coalton, where he now carries a stock of about $6,000, with a sale of about $24,000.

     R. M. Steele, M. D.,

     Isaac V. Stevison,

     Charles N. Thornhill,

     J. A. Whetzel, was born July 19, 1842, in Jackson County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob

[Page 646]

     J. H. Wilson,

     T. J. Williams was born Nov. 30, 1840, in Weston, Oneida Co., N. Y., a son of John T. and Elizabeth Williams, who came from Wales about 1830.  He attended school in his native town till 1854, when he moved with his parents to Jackson County, Ohio, where he worked about furnaces in summer and attended school during the winter till he was twenty-one years old.  He then enlisted in Company C, Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, as a private, but was soon promoted to Corporal, Quartermaster-Sergeant, then to Second Lieutenant, and then to First Lieutenant, which position he held till he was mustered out May 1, 1866, at New Orleans.  He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg, siege of Corinth, Red River and a number of others.  After the war he clerked in Portsmouth till Feb. 12, 1868, since which time he has been a partner in the Buckeye Furnace.  He was married

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Jan. 15, 1867, to Annie E., daughter of D. M. and Mary Davis, of Portsmouth.  They have had six children - Grace, Elmer, Harlan, Bertha, Annie and Laura, who died in infancy.  Mrs. Williams died Aug. 6, 1880, aged thirty-four years.  Mr. Williams has been Clerk of the township for two years, Justice of the Peace one term, Trustee of township one year, and a member of the School Board a number of years.  He is a Master Mason and belongs to Orphans' Friend Lodge, No. 275, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

     Adam Winfough,

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY.

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SCHOOLS.

ELLSWORTH.

     Ellsworth is a small village of about 175 inhabitants, located in the northwest corner of the township, at the crossing of the C., W. & B. and T., C. & St. L. railroads.  It was first laid out in 1869 by John Skully, and afterward added to by a plat made by Charles Rawlin.  The village has two general stores, kept by C. H. McCormick and W. W. Kennedy (the latter of whom officiates as Postmaster and railroad agent), a graded school and one church.

     The Schools were graded in 1880, and T. Ray secured as Principal.  A good school building was erected in 1880 at a cost of $1,000.  There are about ninety pupils.

     The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the spring of 1875 and the building put up the same year.  The house cost about $800.  The membership at the present time is about twenty-four.  Pastor, Rev. Mr. Bell.

     Finley Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, is situated on section 27.  It was built in 1855, although the society had held meetings for some time in private houses and a school-house.  The building is peculiar for its shape, being hexagonal in form.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

     James Forster

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     Isaac Fry,

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     Patrick Hogan

     C. A. Musgrove

     J. G. Ray

     Hiram Strawn

     Dr. D. E. Tedrow

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     Stephen M. Tripp

     Rev. William Wallace

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY.

CANTNER'S CAVE.

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SETTLEMENT.

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SCHOOLS.

RAYSVILLE.

SWIFTSVILLE.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

     D. B. Drake, M. D.

     Robert Ervin

     Abraham French

     Joseph M. Ray

     William T. Richardson

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     Alfred L. Robbins,

     P. Springer was born Sept. 10, 1845, in Jackson Township, Jackson County.  He enlisted Aug. 8, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, where he served one year, when the regiment was then re-organized into the First Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery.  He participated in a number of battles and served till the war closed, being mustered out June 20, 1865, at Knoxville, Tenn.  After coming home he returned to school awhile, after which he engaged in farming, which he yet follows.  He was married Oct. 8,1867 to Callie, daughter of Lewis and Sarah Leach.  They are the parents of five children - Minnie G., Edith A., Lula A., Vera O. and Lillie M.  Mr. Springer was elected County Commissioner on the Republican ticket in 1876, re-elected by a large majority in 1881, and still holds that office.  He has been Postmaster of Springer postoffice since Sept. 7, 1882.  His father is a native of New York, of Swedish descent.  He came to Jackson Township in 1835, where he lived till his death in December, 1858, at the age of forty-five years.

     Wills, John L.

     John Wood

[PHOTO J. H. MCCORMICK]