CHAPTER XXIV.
pg. 286

Some Account of the Townships Severed from Old Knox -
Chester, Bloomfield and Franklin -
Their History Until Morrow was Created

     THE territory of Knox remained entire, notwithstanding extraordinary efforts had been made time and again to erect new counties, taking a part of her territory, until, at the session of the Legislature in 1848, Morrow was created - taking from Knox Chester, Franklin and Bloomfield townships.

     Chester Township - the oldest of the three, was laid off by order of the Commissioners at their session April 10th, 1812.  The first election was held at the house of Wm. Johnson, on the 25th of that month.  The Judges of election this year were Joseph Duncan, Henry George, Evan Holt; Clerks, Wm. Johnson and Samuel Johnson.  Rufus Dodd, first lister of taxable property, received a $3 county order for his services this year.  In addition to the above named, we find other early settlers to have been Ensley Johnson, John Walker, David Miller, John Parcels, Enos Miles, Robert Dalrymple, Isaac Norton, James and George Irwin, Joseph Howard, Bartlet Norton, and Daniel Kimbel.  Moses Morris, Henry George and a few other Welch families, were among the number of the best citizens of this township, and many of their countrymen located

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around them.  The greater part of the original families were from New Jersey.
     In 1813, at the October election, there were fifteen voters; among them were Joseph, William and Uriah Denman, Sam'l Shaw and Chism May.  The vote stood, for Representative, Gass 15; Commissioner, Peter Wolf 9; Sheriff, John Hawn, Jr. 13, Wm. Mitchel 1.
     The forks of Owl Creek passing through this township afford several good mill-seats durable power, and furnish the people with facilities for getting breadstuffs at their own doors.  Their lands are generally rolling and very productive.  The citizens have ever been distinguished for industry and thrifty management.  In 1830, the population was 778; in 1840, it was 1,297; and in 1850, 1,620.
     Chesterville, the post-office and business point, was laid out by Enos Miles, deputy surveyor, ____.  For many years the post-office went by the name of Miles's X Roads, and the good tavernkeeper's name seemed for a long time likely to absorb the other.  It was on the main thoroughfare from Mt. Vernon to Mt. Gilead, and on the old State road from Johnstown to Paris and New Haven; distant from Mt. Vernon 14 miles, from Fredericktown 8, from Mt. Gilead 10, from Johnstown 23, and 30 from Paris.  In 1830, it contained 250 inhabitants, 40 dwellings, 5 stores, 1 tavern, 1 flour-mill, 1 sawmill, 1 tannery, 1 church, and several mechanic shops.  This village has ever been distinguished for the attention paid to schools, churches, etc., and the general morality of its citizens; of whom we may name the Shurs, the Bartletts, and Hance,

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who have been heavily engaged in merchandise and trade, Abram King, Dr. Richard E. Lord, Dan. Miles and Judge Kinsel.
     Evan Holt, as a revolutionary soldier, served six years; was a native of Chester, Pa., emigrated to this county in 1808, and lived for 39 years on land received for his services.  He also was a pensioner until his death, in his 84th year, leaving a large family married and settled around him.  Evan, Jr. was a great fighter - possessed of bone, muscle and pluck; he fought in Morris township, about 35 years ago, a fist fight with John Magoogin, where he displayed uncommon skill.  They had a difficulty at a camp-meeting over the creek, on James Smith's farm, and then made up this fight, to come off at the first big muster at the Cross Roads, by Wm. Mitchell's.  A great crowd witnessed it.  Magoogin was a stout and brisk man of much courage; he died a soldier in the Mexican war.  The fight was conducted fairly, and Magoogin carried the palm.
     The Dalrymple family is one of the most respected, of whom Charles has long been a good justice of the township.
     The poll-book of Chester in April, 1824, concludes as follows: - "We certify that John Stilley had 26 votes for Justice, Wm. W. Evans 26.  Decided by draught in favor of John Stilley.  John De Witt, John Beebe, Jas. McCracken, Judges; Enos Miles, Jas. F. Clapp, Clerks.  We therefore do certify that John Stilley from Arrangements was duly elected a justice of the peace for Chester township, this 1st Monday, April, A. D. 1824."

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SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1812	Wm. Johnson.	1833.	Enos Miles.
1817.	Rufus Dodd.	1836.	"        "
	Joseph Denman.	1839.	"        "
1819.	W. Van Buskirk.	1836.	Byram Beers.
1822.	"        "	1839.	"         "
1820.	Enos Miles.	1842.	"         "
	Daniel Beers.	1845.	"         "
1823.	"        "	1835.	Henry De Witt.
1824.	John Stilley.	1838.	"         "
1826	John Beebee.	1842.	P. B. Ayres.
1829.	"        "	1843.	Thomas Peterson
1827.	Moses Powell.	1846.	Davis Miles.
1830.	"        "	1844.	Charles Dalrymple.
1833.	"        "	1847.	"         "

     Franklin, the most extreme township in the north-west corner of "old Knox," before she was shorn of her fair proportions by the erection of Morrow, was first known Dec. 3d, 1823, by being created and named after the philosopher, statesman and printer, Benjamin Franklin.  The first election came off on the first Monday of April, 1823, at the house of Thomas Axtell.  The principal place of business is Pulaskiville.
     Jamestown was many years ago a famous business place, projected by Allen Kelly, Esq., who emigrated from Northumberland county, Pa., at a very early day, and has ever been a prominent stock raiser and farmer.  David Peoples, David Shaw, Wm. T. Campbell, Washington Strong, the Petersons, Hickmans, Blairs and Van Buskirks were among the early settlers.  Of these Abraham Blair, of Perth Amboy, N. J., settled in 1811 upon the farm on which he died, in his 90th year, on the

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2d of October, 1846.  He served as a minute man during the Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles of Trenton and Monmouth.  He was a good citizen, and much respected.
     David Shaw served his fellow citizens over twenty-one years as a Justice of the Peace, and was also Commissioner of the County nine years.  He was a very clever, quaint old gentleman, whose name is ever associated with Franklin township affairs.
     Colonel Strong was noted as a military character, and a democrat.  His patriotic party ardor sustained him in walking all the way from home to the State Conventions at Columbus, and back again.  And speaking of democracy reminds us of the zeal of Joshua Bickford, who, for many years, was one of the shining lights of Franklin.  One little incident is worthy of note.  He was selected once upon a time as Chairman of a County Convention, and among other business was the appointment of delegates to a district convention to be held at Johnstown to nominate a candidate for Congress.  One of the legal gentlemen of the party arose, and moved the appointment of a committee to select delegates to the Congressional Convention, &c.  President Bickford put the question - "Gentlemen, all you in favor of the motion just made about delegates to the Congregational Convention will say aye."  Then gentleman who made the motion sprang to his feet somewhat excited, exclaiming, "The Congressional Convention," I said.  "Exactly," said the President; "You've heard the motion, Gentlemen: the Congregational Convention I said,

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and I say it again, and I know what Mr. M_____ said, and what we all want - we want democrats to congregate at Johnston, and it is a Congregational Convention."  Joshua was in earnest in whatever he undertook, and seconded by the efforts of Lieut. Bernard Fields usually carried his points.  He was noted as tavern-keeper, merchant and horse-trader, and was always "bobbing around."
     In addition to the prominent citizens enumerated as having held official positions, we may mention the Swigleys, from Hagerstown, Md., Sam. Livingston, Henry Weatherby, Anson Prouty, Wm. Faris, Wm. Gordon, Benjamin Corwin, Alex, Wilson, Jonathan Olin, Wm. Lavering, Caleb Barton, H. P. Eldrige, C. Sapp, Wm. Linn, B. O. Pitman, David Ewers, Ebenezer Hartwell, B. and E. Lyon, Ben. Hathaway and Thomas Morrison.
     In 1830, Franklin had over 16,000 acres of land upon the tax list, and the census then showed only 800 inhabitants.  In 1840, the inhabitants numbered 1,343, and in 1850, 1,456.
     Upon the organization of this township, Wm. Van Buskirk, a Justice of the Peace within the territory, who had been re-elected in 1822, continued the functions until again elected in 1824.  In 1824, John Truax was elected.  In 1827, David Shaw was elected, and subsequently re-elected over and over again; and when the township was carried into Morrow county, it took the old Justice along to keep it straight.  H. W. Strong was elected in 1834, and re-elected in 1837.  Wm. Van Buskirk was elected in 1840, re-elected in 1843, and

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again in 1846; and during  his term of service the connection with Knox was severed.
     Bloomfield Township was created June 23d, 1817, and received its name in this wise:  Several of the settlers were at the house of Shelden Clark early in the Spring, talking about the new township, when John Blinn called attention to the coming of flowers upon the beautiful mound that they stood upon, and suggested that, as the field was in bloom, it should be called Bloomfield, which was accordingly done.
     Benjamin H. Taylor was the first lister of property for taxation and made his return June, 1818, receiving an order for $5 for his services.
     The family of Artemas Swetland emigrated to this State in 1808, and in 1812 located in this part of the county, where their name has ever since existed.
     The next earliest settlers were the Clarks, Walker Lyon, Preston Hubbell, Seth Nash, John Helt, Wm. Ayres, John Blinn, Dr. Bliss, Samuel Whitney, Lucius French, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Mead, Lemuel Potter - all industrious and substantial men.  The Clarks - Roswell, Sheldon and Marshal, were sons of Daniel Clark of New Haven co., Ct. Lyon, Hubbel, Nash, Whitney, French, Marvin and Mead, were also from that county.  Helt and Ayres were from Washington co., Pa.
     The first post office established was called Clarks X Roads, at the intersection of the road from Johnstown to New Haven with the road from Mt. Vernon to Delaware - a central point - being 13 miles from Berkshire, Mt. Vernon, Chesterville

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and Johnstown.  The post office was subsequently styled Bloomfield.
     The next was Sparta, upon the old State road from Mansfield via Frederick to Sunbury and Columbus.  It is considerable of a trading point.  From 1840 to 1850 much mechanical and manufacturing was carried on.  Benjamin Chase erected quite a large woolen manufactory and ran it for several years; upon his death the works stopped.  Charles Osborne was the last at the business; he moved to Mt. Gileod and has since gone west, somewhere.  Elisha Cook now operates a steam saw and grist mill in the old factory buildings.
     In 1817 there were only 16 voters.  In 1840, the population had increased to 1,252; and in 1850, 1,395.
     Of the first settlers Sheldon and Roswell Clark, Walker Lyon, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Mead, A. W. and Giles and F. M. Swetland are yet living.
     Roswell Clark came to the country in 1816, with his wife.  They have had three children - Daniel now in Xenia; Eliza married John Barr, in Bloomfield; Rev. Wesley died at West Liberty, two years ago, aged 46 years.  He was a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a man of much worth; his widow and children live in Bloomfield.  Sheldon Clark was married when he emigrated, in 1819, and has two daughters - Victorine P., married Floyd Sears; and Rebecca Jane, C. B. Jackson.  Preston Hubbell is dead, and his three children are in the west.  Lucius French is dead; his son, Andrew, and daughter, Emeline, live in Bloomfield.

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     John Helt survives with two children - Casper, a son, in Bloomfield; and Lafayette, a soldier in the army.  Wm. Ayres is dead, and left no children.  Walker Lyon, in his 73d year, is in Bloomfield with his son, Smith.  He was two daughters living - Harriet, wife of Rowland Rogers; and Sally Jane, wife of James Howe, of Fredericktown.  Samuel Whitney died leaving two children - Wheeler, in Bloomfield; and Samuel, near Berkshire.  Seeth Nash is dead, and his children, three in number, are in the west.  Artemas Swetland is dead; his three boys - Augustus W., Fuller M., and Seth, and his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Shurr, are living.  Lemuel Potter moved into Bloomfield in 1819 from southern Ohio; he is dead, and left eight children - Cassandra lives in Bloomfield, Lemuel, jr., in Urbana, and two of the boys are doctors in Wayne.
     Among the early items of this township was the separation of a man and wife, by public notice given, as follows:  "By mutual consent James C. and Rebecca Wilson, of Bloomfield township, Knox county, have this day (Oct. 21st) agreed to dissolve as being man and wife."
     Stephen Marvin is living.  He had three children; two survive - Charlotte, widow of Wesley Clark; and Eliza, wife of Dr. Page.
     The first brick house in this township was built in 1823, by Roswell Clark, a two story building in which he has so long resided.  The first frame house was the two story frame in which Sheldon Clark resides, built in 1828.  Prior to these houses they, like other settlers, lived in log cabins.  The

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Clarks burnt the first lime in this township on log-heaps.  The price then was fifty cents per bushel unslacked - just double the present rate.  Since that they have burnt many kilns, and made their support and fortunes.  For many years they furnished the greater part of the lime used at Mount Vernon for building and other purposes.
     Among the objects of sympathy, at an early day, was Samuel Collinfare, a poor little hunchback and ricketed spinner, who traveled from house to house and spun for the citizens.  He was a native of the Isle of Man, and made his first appearance about 1819.  The dwarf never would work for wages, but for clothes and food - was good society - well informed, and ever cheerfully greeted where he called.  A few years since E. W. Cotton, obeying the prompting of a generous heart, erected a monument mortal remains were laid.
     The first church in this township was the Methodist Episcopal, at Bloomfield, on Clark street, as it is called; it was erected in 1839.  The next Methodist Episcopal Church was built at Sparta in 1816.
     In 1846 the Christian Church was put up in Sparta.  These churches are frame buildings.  The first preacher in the township was Thomas Kerr, Methodist.  A good man - long since departed.  About 1817 Rev. ____ Cooper, Methodist, officiated in the township; he is also dead.  They were both local preachers.
     The Rev. _____ Britton, about 1817, preached the Christian, or Campbelite doctrine.  Rev. James Smith, about the same time, was a voice crying

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aloud in this wilderness the same gospel truths.  They also have passed hence.
     In 1850 the Wesleyan Methodists erected a small church about one and a half miles west of Sparta at which the noted Edward Smith preached until he died at Harmony in 1859; his body was interred in the Bloomfield burying ground.  The present preachers are John T. Kellum and Wm. Conant, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. ___ Bainam, Wesleyan Methodist.  The last Christian minister was the Rev. J. W. Marvin.
     The Rev. ____ Cleaver, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister of Bellville, occasionally holds forth in this township.
     The first white person to die in Bloomfield township was Marshal Clark, brother of Sheldon and Roswell, who died in 1816.
     Bloomfield deserves more than a passing notice for the respect shown to the dead.  The cemetery is a sacred spot - neat and tastily kept.  It is one mile north of Clark street, and contains many neat and costly monuments.
     The trustees of the township have, from its first selection, had its keeping in charge, and they deserve credit for its management.
     The first store in this township was kept by ____ Carpenter.  The second by Dr. A. W. Swetland, who is yet in business at Sparta.
     The other parties selling goods at Sparta are Chase & Co., the brothers Wm., John & E. Byron, L. Swetland, and Antipas Dexter; and a stock of goods is kept at Bloomfield by Mann Lyon.

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     Among the residents of Bloomfield are the Conways.  Widow Charlotte Conway, who died in 1859, moved from Fauquier co., Va., with her sons Joseph, Wm. and John.  Joseph married a daughter of Wm. Sanford in 1842; Wm. lives near Mt. Liberty, and John in Knox co., Missouri.  The Manvilles, the Barrs, the Sanfords, Lovelands, Sheldons, Burkholders, Searses, Ashleys, Craigs, Throckmortons and Higginses, are also among the well known names.
     The Cottons were among the early settlers and as such deserving of notice at our hands, more especially since the name continues in the county and is familiar to our people.  Harris W. Cotton, one of the commissioners of Fayette co., Pa., entered a section of land in Bloomfield, and upon his return home, while preparing to move, died.  His sons, Emmet W. and Harris, brought out the mother and family.  The old lady died in Union county in June, 1851, of cancer.  The children were Nancy, wife of James Thompson, in Milford; Mary, wife of Michael Cramer, in Union county; Pamelia, wife of Elijah Crable, in Liberty; John W. in West Brownsville, Pa.; Harris W., who died in Liberty in 1835, Emmet W. in Mt. Vernon; Louisa, wife of Thomas Merrell, who died about 1852 in Columbus, Ill.; Charlotte, wife of Robert Butler, who also died in Illinois; and Elizabeth, first wife of M. Cramer, who died in Clinton township about 1833.  The main dependence for errands and chores of the family, in early times, was Emmet, who has often carried two bushels of wheat on horseback to Mt. Vernon and exchanged it for one pound of

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coffee.  At that time the only improvements on the road to Norton's mill were, first, a little clearing of ____ Higgins; the next at the old Norton farm, now owned by Frazier; the next at Chapman's; next an old cabin, on the Gotshal place, where _____ Wolford lives; and these were all on the now thickly settled road from Bloomfield to Mt. Vernon.
     Idon V. Ball, born in Brownsville, Pa., in 1805, married Catharine Woods, of that place; moved to Bloomfield in Sept., 1841, and settled on the place he has since resided upon.  He has had one daughter and eight sons; six of his boys now survive.  For twenty years he has been engaged in farming and entertaining the public.  Many a wayfaring man has fared sumptuously at his stand, and many have been the happy parties of pleasure-seekers from Mt. Vernon and other points, who have been hospitably entertained by Mr. Ball and his excellent lady.
     William McKinstry and John Brocaw are among the prominent farmers of Bloomfield, both from Hunterton county, New Jersey, and came to Knox county with the family of Matthias McKinstry, in 1831.
     John Lineweaver came in 1827, and still lives in it, with a considerable family.  Harvey Lounsbery is another old settler.  Antipas and Chauncey Dexter, good millwrights, are also among the present inhabitants.
     Thomas Osborne and his wife Olive, emigrated from Rhode Island in 1818.  He died in 1853, in his 74th year; she is at the old homestead, in her 74th year.  They had nine children.  Those now

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living are all in Bloomfield, but Orilla, wife of Jesse Severe, in Liberty.  John H. married Nancy Severe; James M., Sophia Thatcher; Amanda is the wife of David Coyle; Sarah Ann the wife of John Dustin; Wm. N. married Harriet Dustin, and George R., Purilla Roberts.  The old gentleman had been a sailor and soldier, and did good service in his day and generation.
     Samuel Westbrook was a good rough carpenter and joiner; he moved to Michigan, and is now dead  The Westbrooks were among the old settlers of this township; none of the name now live in Knox county.
     An aeronaut, by the name of F. H. Westbrook, met with a terrible end on the 4th of July, 1862.  There was a large concourse of people at Sparta, in commemoration of the national anniversary, who were addressed by Rev. Mills Harrod, W. L. Bane, and A. Banning Norton, and at 5 o'clock P.M., as previously announced, a balloon went up with Westbrook to the distance of perhaps five hundred feet, when it burst in pieces and fell to the earth, killing the reckless navigator. It was a miserable rotten old fabric, and was the most foolhardy operation we have ever witnessed.  About three thousand people were estimated to have been present, witnessing the sad termination to an otherwise joyful occasion.  What a sudden transition from life to death!  Within five minutes of the time he ascended, waving his hat amid the hurrahs and shouts of the people, he fell a corpse, leaving a wife and several children to mourn his exit.  For their benefit B. L. Swetland at once

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started a subscription, which was liberally responded to by good citizens.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

     June 23d, 1817, the Court of Common Pleas allowed Bloomfield one justice, to be elected at the house of Timothy Smith, and Matthew Marvin was chosen in 1818.
 

1819.	Walker Lyon.	1824.	James Thompson
1822.	"        "	1827.	R. Clark
1820.	John Manville	1833.	James Thompson
1823.	Stephen Dodd.	1837.	John Beebee
1824.	David Bliss	1840.	"        "
1827.	John Manville.	1836.	James Shumate.
1830.	"        "	1844.	Jacob J. Thompson
1834.	Davis Bliss.	1846.	Wheeler Ashley
1837.	"        "	1848.	Charles M. Eaton
1840.	"        "
1843.	Jared Irvine
1846.	"        "

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