TERRITORIAL TOWNSHIPS.

     At the first court, held September, 1797, the county was divided into six townships, as follows:  Cedar Hill, Manchester, Iron Ridge, Union, Scioto and Upper.
     Cedar Hill began at the mouth of Eagle creek, extended up the river to a point opposite the mouth of Cabin creek at Lawson's Ferry, thence north to the northern boundary of the county, thence west on said line to the west line of the county, thence south to the place of beginning.
     Manchester township began at the south-east corner of cedar Hill, opposite the mouth of Cabin creek, thence up the Ohio river to the month of Island creek, thence up that stream to the main forks, thence on the highlands, between the main branches, to the highlands between Eagle creek and Bush creek, to a point where the Maysville and Wheeling road crossed said highlands, between the waters of Lick Fork and Eagle creek, from thence north to the north line of the county, thence west on said county line to the north-east corner of Cedar Hill township, thence south along that line to the place of beginning.
     Iron Ridge, probably so named from the vast deposits of Iron ore found in the hills of what is now Jefferson and Meigs townships, began at the south-east corner of Manchester at Island creek, thence up the river to the first large branch above the mouth of Salt creek in Scioto county, thence nearly northwardly to the north line of the county, thence west to the Manchester township line, thence south to the place of beginning.
     The other three townships, Scioto, Union and Upper, to form Scioto county.
     These townships remained until 1806, when the Commissioners re-divided the county into townships, with new names.  Today there is but one that bears the old name - Manchester.

THE OLD ZANE TRACE.

     This is probably the first laid off road in Ohio.  In May, 1796, Congress passed a law authorizing Ebenezer Zane to open a road from Wheeling to Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky.  The next year, 1797, Mr. Zane, accompanied by his brother, Jonathan Zane, and his son-in-law, John McIntire, both experienced woodsmen, proceeded to mark the new road.  This road passed through Zanesville, Lancaster and Chillicothe, on the general route of the Maysville and Chillicothe pike.  It passed through Adams county, a little to the west and north of the village of West Union.  The mail was carried over this route the next year, 1798, and it was probably the first mail route established in Ohio.  This was at first only a bridle path, and barely passable on horseback.  It afterwards became a great thoroughfare through Ohio, and was the route over which the southern statesmen - President Jackson and Henry Clay among others - passed their way to Washington city.

EARLY RECORDS.

     The first record we find regarding the local affairs of the county, after its organization in July, 1797, is of a court of Quarter Sessions, held at Adamsville, in March, 1798.
     At this court, James Scott, Henry Massie and Joseph Darlinton were appointed Commissioners, and Simeon Reeder, Aaron Moore, Noble Grimes, James Edison, Thomas Dick and John Watts, were appointed Assessors.
     The Commissioners and Assessors appear at this date, to have jointly, constituted a body for transacting the general business of the county.
     This body first met for the transaction of business at Adamsville, on the 13th of June, 1798, but for lack of a quorum, they adjourned to meet at the same place on the 27th of June.

[Page 14]
     At the appointed time, a quorum was present, and they proceeded to appoint a clerk, when Joseph Darlinton was selected for the position.  They next proceeded to appoint collectors of taxes for the several townships, as follows:  John B. Gonett, Upper Township; David Mitchell, Union Township; Stephen Beach, Iron Ridge Township;

 Samuel Smith, Scioto township; John Ellison, Manchester township; William Rains, Cedar Hill township.  Having calculated the amount of the public debt of the county and other necessary expenses, such as building jail, etc., they proceeded to make a levy of $2,400, to meet the same.
     They next proceeded to appoint constables to take a list of the taxable property of their respective townships, and report the same to the board on the 9th of August, at the dwelling house of John Genett, in Manchester.
     They then adjourned to meet at the above mentioned place, August 5th.
     The first record we find of the existence of a Sheriff, is the payment of a bill of $38.50 to John Barnett, Sheriff, for taking Hugh McDill to Cincinnati.
     August 9th, Commissioners met pursuant to adjournment and received the returns of the Assessors' and adjourned to meet in Manchester, Sept. 7th.
     Unmarried Men Taxed, But Don't Like to Pay. - At the September session, we find the first transaction recorded as follows:
     "It appears to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, that John Crawford, of Iron Ridge township, who was taxed as a single man, is married, and that his property is taxed to and paid, by his son, Moses Crawford.  Ordered that his money be refunded."
     At this session we find the following records of the Commissioners' transactions:
     "George Campbell, a single man, in Iron Ridge township, who was taxed, this day proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, that he ran under age and is exonerated.
     "Joseph White, of Iron Ridge, being taxed as a single man, proved by the oath of his father to be under age, is exonerated.
     "George Rex, of Iron Ridge, having produced testimony that he is under age, is exonerated.
     "Return of persons subject to taxation, by Stephen Beach, collector of Iron Ridge township, who were omitted by the constable Assessor, to-wit:
Elijah Queen, a single man ... $1.00
Aaron Armstrong ................. $1.00
John Garvey ......................... $1.00
Michael Stultz ...................... $1.00
John Sanders ........................ $1.00
Thomas Tolbert ....................$1.00
David Rupe ...........................$1.00
Joseph Wolsey ......................$1.00
     The duplicates of those years, being lost, we are unable to ascertain the amount of revenue, this law brought into the county treasury each year.
                           MANCHESTER, Aug. 9th, 1798
     The Commissioners met agreeable to adjournment, 28th of June last, and were present, Henry Massie and Joseph Darlinton, Commissioners.  James Scott being appointed Commissioner at the General Court of Quarter Sessions at the March Term, this day exhibited a certificate of his qualification and took his seat.
     First Orders Drawn on the Treasury. - "The following accounts against the county were presented to and allowed by Commissioners and Assessors, to wit:
1.  Samuel Harris and guards, for taking Patrick Craton prisoner, from Chillicothe to Manchester ..... $16.91⅔
2. Same, for taking Jacob Tolen, as above... $34.96
3. Same, for taking Thomas Thompson, as above... $36.00
4. Thomas McDonald Constable, for guarding Hugh McDill, from Chillicothe to Manchester ... $22.41
5. Jno. Barrett, Sheriff and guards for taking Hugh McDill to Cincinnati, etc..... $38.50
6. Josiah Stout, Constable, for taking Peter Walker, etc. ... $3.11
7. Sundry guards for keeping Hugh McDill .. $20.25
     The above is believed to be the first orders ever drawn upon the treasury of Adams county.
     The first record we find of a Treasurer, is an account of the county, with Israel Donaldson, Treasurer, commencing September 7th, 1798.

     At a Court of General Quarter Sessions, held at Washington in March, 1799, George Gordon and James Edison, were appointed Commissioners.
     At the term held at Washington, May 20th, 1799, Nathaniel Washburn was allowed for taking care of, and burying a sick man, who died at his house, $15.00.
     They established the fee bill for Constables serving warrants and taking into custody.     30 cts.
Serving Summons ..............................     20 cts.
Serving Attachments ..........................     20 cts.
Serving Search warrant ......................     25 cts.
Serving Execution ..............................     20 cts.
Summoning witnesses .......................       6 cts.
Advertising and selling property .........     30 cts.
Mileage ..............................................       6 cts.
Returning any of the above precepts ..       6 cts.

     They also issued warrants to Samuel Vanhook, collector of Union township, against the following persons:
John Lindsey, Jr. ................................  $1.00
David Mitchell, Jr. .............................   $1.00
William Coin, Jr. ................................   $1.00
     A warrant was also issued against Thos. Foster, of Manchester, for $1.00
     Stephen Beach, collector of Iron Bridge, obtained warrants against the following persons:
John Garvey .......................................  $1.00
Isaac Stout ..........................................  $1.00
Andrew Williamson .............................  $1.00
Elijah Queen .......................................  $1.00
William Peterson ................................   $1.00
Joseph Caraway .................................  $1.00
     The above are the taxes for 1798.
     At the December session for 1799, Jno. Killin, collector for the same township (Iron Ridge) obtained warrants against a log list of deliquents among which we select the following:
Joseph Thorn ...................................    $1.00
Robert Mitchell .................................   $1.00
William Newman ...............................   $1.00
Phillip Lewis ......................................   $1.00
Amos Dunavan .................................   $1.00
John Conrod .....................................   $1.00
Christian Waggoner ..........................   $1.00
George Rex ........................................   $1.00
John Burns ........................................   $1.00
John Garey ........................................   $1.00
Robert Ralston ..................................   $1.00
Providence Moore .............................  $1.00
John Graves .......................................  $1.00
     The foregoing items of one dollar set opposite each respective name, was the "bachelor" tax.  This class of men do not appear to have received much sympathy from the community - or enjoyed the respect of mankind - or woman-kind either for that matter.  Scorned by "old maids" - for their obduracy, chased by constables, armed with warrants, intent to wring from them in unwilling and distasteful tax - they seem to have had no rights, that the unfeeling and tyrannical world fet "bound to respect."
    In September session, 1799, John Barrett, Sheriff, for himself and guards, while keeping Jacob Foley, prisoner was allowed $17.93."
     At a Court of General Quarter Sessions, held March 14th, 1800, George Gordon, James Edison and Joseph Kerr were appointed Commissioners.  Joseph Ken was appointed  Secretary for the Board.
     July Term, the Court of Common Pleas ordered the Treasurer to pay John Barrett, Sheriff, $77.41 costs.
     At the same Term, Sheriff Barrett received two more orders, one for $59.55½, the other for $165.32, for costs.
     John Davidson had served 33 days as gurad - for which an order was issued for $33.
     At the September Term, in 1800, the first bounty for a wolf scalp, $1.25, was paid John Callaway.
     Two warrants for "bachelor tax" were issued against Abraham Johnson and Nathan Treaks.
     At the July Term, 1806, Noble Grimes was allowed $45, for furnishing rooms and repairing Court House.  Isaac Wamsley, Joseph Moore, Noble Grimes, and Jonathan Wamsley were allowed $1.25 each for killing wolves.