BEAVER TOWNSHIP

ITS AREA, METES AND BOUNDS.

     Beaver is the east-central township of the county, and is three and one-half miles north and south by seven east and west, and should have an area of 15,680 acres of land, but is assessed on 14,642, which is only about two-thirds of a congressional township.  It is bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Jackson County, on the south by Union and Marion townships, and on the west by Seal Township.  It is among the oldest settled townships, and there are none now living within the township that may be said to have been is pioneers; none to give a personal account of the troubles and trials or the pleasures and progress of three fourths of a century ago.  These pioneers came from Pennsylvania, Virginia and a few from the Carolinas and settled here when it was an unbroken wilderness.

ITS DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

     The northern part of the township is hilly and broken, but the south is more level, rising in places as an undulating plain, the soil being deep, rich and productive.  The valley, or rather the upland, of Beaver Creek touches the southern border of the township and follows it as it flows westward toward the Scioto, Beaver Creek rises on the east side of the township and on its northern border, two branches meeting near the center, running south and leaving the township, passing into Marion within a mile of its eastern border.  It can hardly be said that the valley of Beaver Creek extends as far as it at first sight appears.  There is, however, back from each bank of this creek a wide and gently rolling body of land of great width and fertility, and while Beaver Creek runs through it the whole appearance of the country ahs not so much the look of a valley as it has that of nearly level country, diversified by, in some places, a rolling surface hardly reaching to the dignity of a hill.  The fact that such a wide and somewhat level depression, from the high hills and rugged and broken surface of the county gave to Beaver Township and along Beaver Creek its early inhabitants.  It is called Beaver Valley, and in many places is fully as wide as the Scioto Valley, and, in ages past, what is now a creek must have flowed a river fully as large as the Scioto River is to-day.  The valley is covered with good dwellings and well-cultivated fields.  Take the township altogether and it may be said to be a good agricultural township.  There is some broken land in the north, and soil, in places, in the southern part that is thin, but Beaver may be said to be a full average, and corn, wheat and hay are the leading products.  In the center and western part of the township Keller's Run, Six-mile Creek, Five-mile Creek and Four-mile Creek pass through it from south to north and about one mile apart, running parallell with each other.  Thus it is well watered, and in the northern part has a fine growth of timber.  The coal belt may be said to touch the east side of Beaver

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Township, but there has been no coal yet found, although the indications are that there is coal in the township.  Slate and shale crop out in various places, and but a short distance in Jackson County excellent coal has been found and is now mined.
     Among the first to arrive in the township was Abraham Lawrence, who first cleared a patch of ground and built a rude cabin on what is now the Given's farm.  Rev. Darly Kelly settled soon after on Beaver Creek, just beyond where Beavertown now stands, and all this section, being nearly level, was soon settled and the log cabins were found dotting the valley.  A few years later Wm. Saylor settled the farm where Wm. Kirkpatrick now lives.  He came about the year 1810.  This farm is now in Union Township.  Beaver at that time included Union and Marion townships.  D. W. James, who was born in the township, was a son of John James, who moved to the county from Pennsylvania in 1812.  D. W. James lives on the old farm, has been a Justice of the Peace, and is yet a prominent citizen of the township.

ITS NAME.

     Beaver Creek took its name from the number of these little water animals which infested its waters and banks.  It is one of the prettiest little streams of water in the county.  From this stream the township took its name.

ORGANIZATION.

     Beaver Township was organized by the commissioners of Ross County Sept. 8, 1814, and covered all of the territory east of the river and south of the Scioto County line.  When Pike County was organized Jackson and Seal townships were formed from Beaver, the latter including most of Scioto Township.  The Union was taken from Beaver, May 8, 1848, and Marion, Dec. 4 of the same year, leaving Beaver in her present size and shape, excepting some three changes which are here given.  The first change was Dec. 4, 1848, at the date Marion Township was formed, to change the line between Jackson and Beaver as follows:
     "In compliance with a petition from citizens of Jackson Township the line between Jackson and Beaver townships was changed so as to run as follows:  Commencing on the Jackson County line at the half-mile corner of section 14, township 6, range 20, running thence west on said half-mile line until it strikes said township at the half-mile corner of section 13, township 5, range 21."
     The next change was Dec. 3, 1850, when a portion of Union was attached to Beaver, and last in March, 1851, when a portion of Beaver was attached to Jackson and to Union townships, leaving, as above stated, the township as now designated on the map.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1883

     Trustees, Phillip Farney, W. D. James, George Leist; Clerk, F. Scharenberg; Treasurer, Frank Ehrman; Assessor, Jacob Lapp; Justices of the Peace, W. D. James and A. P. Ballard.
     The value of personal property in the township in 1880 was $74,368.  Its land assessment, 14,642 acres was assessed in the year 1882 at $80,151, and its personal property $87,427.  Beavertown, real and personal, $6,814.  Total township valuation, $174,392.

SCHOOLS.

     There are four district schools in the township, and a special school district, the latter the Beavertown school.  The four outside districts have a population of school age of 291, and a school property valued at $1,000.  One teacher is allowed to each of the five schools, who are paid an average monthly salary of $31.50.  There are no graded schools in the township as yet.  The average attendance is about three-fourths of the enrollment.

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BEAVERTOWN.

     This is a pleasant little hamlet and handsomely located in the valley of Beaver Creek, in the southeastern section of the county.  The Ohio Southern Railroad, which passes through the southwestern part of the township, runs within a half mile of the hamlet, where a station is established.  Being located in the valley of Beaver Creek and upon it bank, there is a fine view of the country around, and the people of the valley give the little hamlet a very handsome support.  It is really a thriving business place.  The village was laid out just prior to 1840, by a man by the name of Reynolds, and was known by that name for a few years, or Reynoldstown, and then changed to its present name.  Having a railroad near them their shipping facilities are good, and quite a market is established at the hamlet, the merchants and business men dealing in all the products the farmers have to sell.
     The business interests consist of five stores, one blacksmith shop and one flouring mill.  It has three churches, a public-school building and two hotels.  The medical profession is ably represented by Drs. Phillips and McAllister.  The flouring mill mentioned above has three runs of burrs, two wheat and one corn, and arranged for bolting the meal as well as the flour.  It was erected in 1865 by Messrs. Poffman & Kuntzman, at a cost of $10,000 and was sold by the present owners, Ehrman & Bro., in 1874.   They make an excellent brand of merchantable flour, and also make a market for all the surplus wheat and corn.  There is a saw-mill attached, and the propelling force is an engine of sixty horse-power.

CHURCHES.

     The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1870 and a church building erected the same year at a cost of $1,200, 30 x 40 feet in size.  Rev. Hamilton was called and the church slowly progressed.  Rev. John R. Prose succeeded him as the second pastor of the church, and he was followed by Rev. David Stoner and Rev. Cherington.  The present minister is Rev. Mr. Crosby, and the church as a membership of thirty.  Trustees:  Mr. Ehrman, Dr. Philips, John Massbarger, Dr. McAllister and David Nutt.

     Beavertown Chapel. - The German church of the United Brethren was organized in the year 1859, and completed a neat and substantial church building early in the following year.  The building was 36 x 46 feet in size and cost $900.  The church was small at first for there were but few resident German families.  At this time, however, nineteen families are members and the church is in a flourishing condition.  Rev. Mr. Assell is in charge as pastor at this time.

     The St. John's Lutheran Church is located in the southern part of Beaver Township and was organized in 1840.  They held services at the school-house till 1845, when a church structure was erected at a cost of $800 and dedicated the same year.  The church has been fairly prosperous, and there are at this time twenty-five families connected with the organization, under the ministerial care of Rev. J. M. Grether.  The Trustees are:  Jacob Laff, Lewis Scharenberg, Frederic Scharenberg and Peter Georgens.

     St. Peter's Church, Reform, is one of the oldest church organizations in the township, and kept up with varying success.  It was, however, reorganized under a more efficient basis Nov. 8, 1874, by Rev. Wm. Steghow, and since then has been in an apparently prosperous condition.  At this reorganization the above name was given it.  In 1875 the church name was given it.  In 1875 the church erected a handsome and commodious  brick structure in the hamlet of Beavertown.  There are now forty families connected, under the pastoral charge of Rev. John M. Grether.  The Trustees are:  Martin Kaufman, George Leist and Lawrence Siller.

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POPULATION.

     In 1840 Beaver had a population of 1,075, but Marion Township being taken from her in 1848, left it in 1850 with 520; in 1860 it was 698; in 1870, 694, and in 1880, 750.

BIOGRAPHICAL