ORGANIZATION.

     This township was organized by the Commissioners, Dec. 2, 1818.  It was formed from the north part of Wayne, and comprised nearly the same territory now embraced within the present limits of Scott and Winchester.
     The elections were ordered to be held at the house of David Robe.  The township was named in honor of Edwin Scott, an old citizen.

TOPOGRAPHY.

     The south-western portion is moderately rolling land and good soil.  There are a number of fair looking farms.  Some of these farmers raise fine stock - especially cattle and hogs, but the northern and north-eastern parts are hilly, poor looking lands, with farms that correspond.
     The principal stream of water of George's creek, which traverses from north-west to south-east.  It is so called from George Secrest, who settled upon it an an early day.

FIRST SETTLERS.

     It is believed that Ruben Smith, John Hamilton, John Oliver, and George Secrest, were the first white families.  Hamilton settled about two miles west of Tranquillity, the others, on George's creek, a mile or two below where the village now stands.
     Robert Elliott was, also, among the first to pitch his tent in this wilderness land.  He came here in 1801, made some improvement, planted an orchard, returned for his family, which he brought out the next year.  He first owned 100 acres of land, and afterwards bought 50 more.  This farm is now owned by A. C. McCullough.
     This Mr. Elliott was the first Justice of the Peace in this section of the country.  Hs commission is dated, Chillicothe, Sept. 10, 1891, and signed by Edward Tiffin, Governor.  The oath of office was administered by David Edie, Associate Judge.
     In 1892 there came in one company, four or five families named: Joseph Gaston, David McCreight, Matthew McCreight, and James McCreight.  These people left South Carolina shortly after the revolutionary war, on account of slavery; they went to Kentucky, where they remained a few years, and from there moved to Adams county, in 1892.
     When the McCreights came, they found living here, William and John McIntyre, who occupied, near where the village now stands, 300 acres of land, now belonging to the Hon. John F. Wilson. James Montgomery lived three-fourths of a mile south, while a Mr. Kindall occupied the farm now owned by James Gasten.

STORES.

     The first store kept here was started by the Hon. John T. Wilson, May 10 1832 - when the country was new - almost an unbroken wilderness - while the doleful howl of wolves and the more shrill screams of the panther resounded at night through the forests on all sides.
     When Mr. Wilson commenced business, he rented a room in the stone dwelling house of John Smiley, that stands near George's creek, three-fourths of a mile above the village, where with a capital of $300, he commenced his career in life, which has been prospered, until it had been crowned with success.  After some years he built his present brick residence, to which he removed his store, in a room fitted up for the purpose.  Here he carried on a large mercantile business until May 1, 1856, when he sold his stock of goods to Silcott & Matthews, who carried on the business in the same room a few months, when, on Aug. 25, 1856, they sold out to W. A. Blair, who conducted the business at the same place, until the summer of 1861, when he built his present store-room in the village, and late in the fall of that year, removed his goods into it, and has thee since carried on his business.
     In 1867, William McVey started a store in the house owned by Matthew Williams, on the south bank of the creek.  After a few years, McVey sold his store to Williams, who run it a few months and closed it out.

MILLS.

     The first water mill was built by Peter Simmons,  on George's creek, two miles east of Tranquillity.  This mill still continues to run.  The next one was built by Levi Smith, on the west fork of Brush creek, four iles southeast of said village.  This mill has gone down.
     There are at present, three ills in running condition, in the township, as follows: 1. The Simmons' mill, mentioned above, now owned by James Parks.  2. The mill and saw-mill near the village.  3. A mill on Buck run, on the west side of the township, known as Campbell's mill, now owned by D. H. Harsha.

VILLAGES, ETC.

     There are in this township, 2 villages, 3 post offices, 4 churches, 3 mills, and 2 doctors.

TRANQUILLITY.

     This is but a small place, and was never regularly laid out as a village, having grown up by lots being sold from time to time to persons who desired to improve them and engage in business.  It contains 1 store, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 saddler's shop, 1 millinery shop, 2 doctors, 1 church and 1 mill - perhaps a dozen houses and 50 to 60 inhabitants.
     It received its name in this way:  The Hon. John T. Wilson, who started a store here at an early day, went to Cincinnati to buy his stock of goods, and when packing, the dealer inquired how they were to be directed.  Mr. Wilson, who had neighter village or post office near him, was at a loss.  The merchant said it was better to have them marked to the name of some place; any name would do.  Mr. Wilson, who was a moral upright man, hesitated a moment, when the thought that "Tranquillity" was a word indicative of the peaceful quietude of the neighborhood, suggested that word as an appropriate name for his place of and business, which it has borne ever since.

MAY HILL.

     This village is located in the north-east corner of the township.  In Kenny's survey.  It stands on high rolling land, and is surrounded by a poor, hilly country.
     It was not laid out as a town, but lots have been sold by Samuel Leedy from his farm, as buyers wanted them.  There is in the place 1 store, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 shoe shop, 1 wagon maker, and 60 inhabitants.
     First settlers in the neighborhood of this place, were Stephen Clark and George Campbell, of Flat Run.

SCHOOLS.

     There are nine sub=districts in the township, with an enumeration of children of school age in 1879: Males, 223; females, 211; total, 434.  Number enrolled for same year:  Males, 203; females, 150.  Average daily attendance:  Males, 114; females, 101.
     There are nine school houses, all in good repair; common ranches only taught.
     Total expenditures for school purposes for the year 1879, $2,333.

POST OFFICES.

     TRANQUILLITY. - This office was established June 19, 1816?, with John McCreight, who ___ continually retained the office to the present time.

     MAY HILL. - This office was established in 1859, with John A. Williams as Postmaster.  The following is a list of the Postmasters since: A. C. Post, Samuel McClure, J. L. Roberts, Joseph Wisecup, Z. T. Guthrie, Isaiah Swishelm.

     BUCK RUN. - This office was established in 18 - with R. K. Campbell as Postmaster.  Although Mr. C. has moved, it is believed no successor is yet appointed, as assistant or deputy filling the place.

FAMILY REMINISCENCES.

     SCOTT TOWNSHIP - The first death that occurred among the early colonists, was a child of Mr. Beard, which was buried in the cemetery where the U. P. church stands at Tranquillity.  This is believed to be the first rave of a white person in Scott township.
     The first school house was a log cabin, but in 1807 or8, and stood on the grounds of the present cemetery of the U. P. church.  The first teacher was James McGill.  This house was used five or six years, when a new one was built on the farm now owned by James Gaston.
     The oldest house now remaining in the township, was built by Joseph Gaston in 1802; in this building, his son, James Gaston, who now owns the premises, was born in 1816.
     When the early settlers came to this neighborhood, there was a camp of Indians on the west branch of Brush creek, at a place since known as Indian Bottom.  It was on what is now the farm of Mrs. Sarah Criswell.  A Mr. Montgomery, who lived near them, had a son, some 16 or 17 years old, who used to go and play with the Indian boys, and became so attached to them and their manner of living, that when the tribe left the country, he went with them, in despite the entreaties of his parents, who never heard of him afterwards.

CHURCHES.

     MOUNT ZION CHURCH - METHODIST EPISCOPAL - This is situated near the north-west corner of the township.  It was organized in 1866, with a class of twelve members.  In 1868, they bought one acre of land of John Martin, and built a very neat frame hosue, 32x40, at a cost of $1,100.  The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. J. Kenall, assisted by Rev. ___ McDonald and Rev. J. H. de Bruin.  Mr. McDonald preached the firt sermon in it, week previous to its dedication.
     It now numbers sixty members, and a Sabbath school kept up through the entire year.

     BUCK RUN CHURCH - METHODIST EPISCOPAL. -

     No history this church is given.

     MOUNT LEIGH - PRESBYTERIAN. - This is one of the early churches of this neighborhood, and has a history that would doubtlessly be interesting, could it be accurately gathered, but from a lack of interest in the matter, those who ought to be particularly interested in it, have failed to supply tangible data for the purpose.

     TRANQUILLITY U. P. CHURCH - FIRST PREACHING, FIRST U. P. CHURCH. -

     A full history of the early planting of this church, at Tranquility, could it be gathered, would doubt less make an interesting article for our work, but unfortunately it appears to be lost.  After diligent search the writer was unable to find a record of it - or even find any of its members or other old citizens who have any clear personal recollections concerning it, though it has had an existence of three-quarters of a century.  They have even preserved but few traditions of it, and these are vague and indefinite.
     As nearly as can be gathered, preaching was an early-institution among these pioneer.  The first sermons preached, were probly at private houses in the neighborhood.  Sometime in the year 1807, a meeting was held at the house of John Milligan to adopt preliminary measures for forming a church organization, but we can only gather a few of the names of those who participated in the meeting and organization and these only from tradition.  They are said to be John Milligan, John McIntire,

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James Montgomery, John McCullough, Alexander McCullough, Robert Elliott, David McCreight, Sr., David McCreight, Jr., Jas. Wright, Robert Glasgow, Joseph Glasgow.  These persons joined in a petition to the A. R. Presbytery, of Kentucky, asking for the organization of a church, and that it be called "Hopewell,"

which name had already been given to the preaching station.  This name it bore until 1835, when it was changed to "West Fork," and in the year 1860, it was again changed to "Tranquility," which it yet bears.  The next step in its history was to build a tent as a temporary place of worship.  This must have been about 1807 or 1808.
     These tents are structures six or eight fact square, made of logs or boards, with three sides enclosed, and one side open, covered with boards or slabs, and a floor elevated a few feet above the ground.  They are usually built in forests or groves.  In the front or open side, with a slab or board for his desk, stood the preacher, who addressed the congregations, who were seated in front of him, on logs or on benches made from the halves of saplings split in two parts for seats, beneath the protecting shade afforded by the thick foliage of the branches of the trees above them, well calculated to remind us of Bryant's "Forest Hymn:"

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.