FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP is situated in the north-east corner of Adams county, Ohio, and contains about _____ square miles of territory.  It was erected in _____ and formerly included the territory now forming Bratton township.  It is principally drained by Scioto Brush creek which empties into the Scioto river.  Crooked Creek drains the Western portion and empties into Brush creek.  The Western portion of the township is comparatively level, but the soil is thin and unproductive.  The eastern portion of the township is mountainous and poor, with a few good farms along the streams.  James Horn settled in Franklin (then Meigs) township, in 1798, on the land now owned by C. P. Tener, about one mile south of the present village of Locust Grove.  About the same time Peter Platter and Peter Wickerham located in the vicinity.  Mr. Wickeerham kept the first hotel in the bounds of the township.  James Boyd, Aaron Freeman, Wm. Pemberton, R. Roberts, George Haines, Wm. Ogle and George Heller were also early settlers.  John Chapman was the first Justice of the Peace in the township.
     Franklin township contains two villages - Locust Grove and Palestine; three churches - the Methodist Episcopal church at Locust Grove, Conaway Chapel, (M. E.) and the United Brethren church at Locust Grove, eleven school houses, two post offices - Locust Grove and Poplar Grove - and one grist ill, that of M. H. Newman, situated on Scioto Brush Creek.  The present Justices are James Copeland and Phillip Leightley; Constables, Samuel Johnson and James Mustard.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

     M. H. Newman, Darius Murphy, Nimrod Conaway, Isaac L. Rarick, Wm. S. Copeland, James Herdman, James Ferguson, Wm. W. Crowthers, J. L. Wright, James Copas and Thomas Beaver.

TOWNS. - LOCUST GROVE

     Curtis Cannon settled in the  vicinity of the now village of Locust Grove, about 1810, ad kept a hotel where Jesse Kendall now resides; he also built a tannery, the first in this part of the country.  Urban W. Cannon, son of Curtis, built a hotel about 1380, and planted a locust grove, opposite the present hotel of D. S. Eylar.  This was in the palmy day of stage coaching, and "Cannon's Hotel" was a noted point on the line from Maysville, Ky., to Zanesville, O., and en. Jackson, more than once, received the hospitalities of this house on his way to and from the Nation's Capital.
     In the year ____ Mr. Cannon laid out a town, which received its name from the locust grove above mentioned.  The first store-house was built and first store kept by L. M. Cannon, about 1833-4.

PALESTINE

     This is the name of a small village in the southern portion of Franklin township.  It was laid out in 1837, by Peter Wickenham, but contains only a few dwelling houses, a small store, wagon-shop and blacksmith shop.

CHURCHES -

LOCUST GROVE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

     The first Methodist class was composed of Jacob Newland, Anna Newland, Peter Andrews, Margaret Pemberton, Cornelius Kane, Elizabeth Kane, David Newman, Wm. Hamilton, Elizabeth Thomas, Jacob Tener and Catherine Tener.  Jacob Newland was the Leader.
     Meetings were held at the house of Jacob Tener until about 1828, when a log church was built.  This served the purpose until 1854, when a new building was erected at Locust Grove, a frame 35x50 feet, which is still used by the congregation.  There are at present about 60 members.  The Leaders are Henry Hamilton and Jesse Kendall.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

     This church was organized in 1856 by Rev. Mr. Bowers, with three members, viz: Southey Copes and wife and Samuel Mattocks.  In the year 1858, a church was built in Locust Grove, brick, 30x40.  There are at present eleven members, and the Rev. Mr. Shade is the pastor, with Mr. Shelton as Leader.

LOCUST GROVE LODGE F. & A. M., NO. 365.

     Dispensation granted June 4, 1866; organized June 26, 1866; the meeting organized by appointing J. R. Copeland, President, and Newton Richards, Secretary.  Present at the meeting; S. E. Parker, G. W. Reddick, James A. Murphy, Jesse Kendall, Newton Richards, J. R. Copeland, D. S. Eylar and T. J. Holliday.
     Officers under the dispensation: Silas E. Parker, W. M.; Geo. W. Reddick, S. W.; James A. Murphy, J. W.
     Charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, at Toledo, Oct. 17, 1866; charter members:  Silas E. Parker, George W. Reddick, James A. Murphy, David S. Eylar, James T. Holliday, Jesse Kendall, T. S. F. Collins, J. R. Copeland, Newton Richards.  First officers elected under the charter, Nov. 22, 1866:  James A. Murphy, W. M.; David Thomas, S. W.; D. S. Eylar, J. W.; Jesse Kendall, Treas.; Newton Richards, Sec.; J. W. Tarlton, S. D.; Isaac East, J. D.; T. S. F. Collins, Tyler; J. R. Copeland, W. C. Elliott, Stewards.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. -

J. S. BERRY.

     The subject of this sketch, is of English descent, but at what time his ancestors came to this country we don’t know.  The earliest authentic information we can gather of them, is of his grand father, Thomas Berry, who lived in Baltimore, where he was married about 1812 or 13.  He served in the war of 1812, was at the fight at Bladensburg. and participated in the military operations around Baltimore and Washington City.  In 1818 he emigrated to what was then the West, and settled near Greenfield, Highland county, O.  Here, in 1832, his wife died.  He remained there until 1810, when he removed to Indiana, and located near a village called Albany, in Delaware county of that State. 
     After settling in Indiana, he married a second wife, by whom he had one child, a daughter,

 named Elizabeth. He died at the advanced age of 80 years.  Thomas Berry, by his first marriage, reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, John, Caroline, Margaret, William, Thomas and Richard.  William and Thomas are deceased, the others still survive.  John, the oldest, in this family of children, was born in Baltimore in 1816.  He is the father of J. S. Berry, the subject of our sketch.  He came with his parents, when two years of age, to Highland county, where he grew to years of maturity and has since lived.  After remaining at home until the age of sixteen, he went to Leesburg, in the same county, to learn the tanning business.  While working at his trade in this place, he married Mary Ellen, only daughter of James and Phebe Stewart.  After his marriage, he bought a farm near Sugar Tree Ridge, to which he moved, whe__ he farmed through the summer and taught school during the winter months, until 1855, when he sold out with the intention of moving West.  But before starting, he had one of his legs so badly broken, that he was for a long time disabled from active business.  This accident caused him to abandon his contemplate, removal to the West, and he bought a farm and tannery in Ham__er township, Highland county, where he now resides, and carries on the farming and tanning business.  In 1875, he suffered a sad bereavement in the death of his wife.  She was born in 1824 and died Apr. 11, 1875.  She had been an exemplary and consistent member of the Christian church nearly all the days of her life.  She was a devoted wife, a kind mother and a good Christian woman.  In January, 1880, he married for a second wife, a Mrs. Gibler.  Mr. Berry is a gentleman of the strictest integrity, respected and esteemed by all who knew him.  He has served the people of his township many years as Justice of the Peace, which office ho still holds.  In religious principles he is a Quaker or Friend, and a consistent member of that church.  By his first marriage he reared a family of eight children, besides a child that died in infancy, named Phebe A., James S., William N., Margaret E., Jesse R., Rachel E., Thomas R., Cynthia B. and Sarah J., who died.  Phebe A. was born Dec. 25, 1842 ; married Perry King.  They live in Lynchburg, Highland county, where Mr. King is engaged as principal of the Union Schools at that place.  James S., born Apr. 26, 1844, married Sarah Murphy, Oct. 9, 1873.  William N., born Nov. 23, 1846, married Mary Hawk.  He resides in White Oak township, Highland county; engaged in farming.  Jesse R., born July 2, 1852, is unmarried: resides in Locust Grove; engaged in the practice of medicine with Dr. J. S. Berry.  Rachel E., born Oct. 11, 1855; married

Pg. 58 -
John Rhoads; resides near Berryville, Washington township, Highland county, where Mr. Rhoads is engaged in farming.  Thomas R., born Mar. 6, 1858; unmarried; is attending college at Wilmington, Clinton county, O.  Cynthia B., born July 1, 1860, is engaged in teaching dear Lynchburg, Clinton county, O.  Sarah J., born Jan., 1863, died in infancy.  Dr. James S. Berry, who is the principal subject of this sketch, was born in Highland county, O., where he received his early education and grew to years of manhood.  He worked on the farm during summer and attended school in winter.  Having improved his opportunities, he found himself, at the age of eighteen, qualified to teach.  He followed teaching some years, devoting a part of the time to attending schools of a higher grade than those he had hitherto had access to.  Thus prepared with a good education, he, in 1867, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Henry Whisler, of New Market, Highland county, O.  He attended the lectures at Starling Medical College, Columbus, O., for the terms of 1868-69, and 1869-70, graduating Mar. 1, 1870.  In April, immediately following, he located at Locust Grove, and commenced the practice of his profession, which has become a lucrative one.  He also holds the office of Notary Public of the village.  As before stated, Dr. Berry was married Oct. 9, 1873, to Miss Sarah A., eldest daughter of Capt. James A. Murphy, of Locust Grove.  Their union has been blest by two bright, pleasant, interesting children.  Charlie, who was born Sept. 25, 1871, and Amina, born Mar. 29, 1877.  Dr. Berry and his pleasant family are located on a beautiful high point in the village, in a pretty house, as will be seen by the view of it, that appears in this volume, enjoying the comforts of their delightful home.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

     We are indebted to McDonald's sketches for the statements here given:  Gen. Massie, while engaged in the winter of 1893-94, in surveying on Caesar's Creek in Ross or Highland county, late one evening came upon tracks of Indians in the snow.  Some of his men were sent to search out the Indian encampment, while others were sent to hunt up the assistant surveyors, in order to collect the whole force together, and he ready for any emergency that might arise.  The Indian encampment was found but it was concluded to be too hazardous an enterprise to attack it, and the surveying party decided to suspend their work and make a rapid retreat to their station at Manchester.  Their line of march for home was at once commenced, and they traveled until or eleven o'clock at night, when they halted till morning, and the march was again resumed, traveling in a Southern direction.  About noon they came to a fresh trail, crossing their route diagonally, and made by four horsemen and eight or ten footmen.  After traveling a few miles further the trail was struck again.  Upon consultation between Massic and his men, it was concluded that these Indians knew nothing of the surveying party, and it was decided to follow them as long as they kept in the direction they were then going.  The pursuit of the Indians was kept up until dusk, as fast as the men could walk, but without overtaking them.  the party then halted for consultation.  In a few minutes the Indians were heard at work with tomahawks, within two or three hundred yards cutting cutting wood and tent poles.  After a short consultation it was decided to wait till morning, and then attack the savages in their camp.  Two or three men were then sent to reconnoiter their camp and bring away their horses, which was done,  and then preparations were made to lie down for the night; but Massic, more thoughtfully than the rest, told them that there would be more risk in  waiting till morning then to attack them now; that they were probably pursued by the Indians

that they had passed, and by waiting until morning ____ _ight be caught between two fires and be destroyed.  His ___ was followed and it was decided to attack immediately.
     It was now about two hours after dark.  The day had been warm, and the snow which was about eight inches deep, had melted and became soft, but when night came on, it began to freeze rapidly, and by this time there was a hard crust on the top.  In this situation a man could be heard walking three hundred yards as he broke the crust beneath his feet.
     The men were formed in a line in single file, with the ramrods of their guns in their hands to steady themselves in walking.  They then commenced moving toward the Indian camp in the following manner:  The foremost man would walk about twenty steps and halt; then the next in the line would move on, stepping in the  the tracts of the first to avoid noise in breaking the crust__ of the snow.  In this cautious and silent manner, they crept within twenty years of the Indian camp, when an unexpected interruption presented itself by a deep ravine between Massie and his party and the Indian encampment.  The Indians were singing and amusing themselves around their fires unconscious of danger.  Massie and his men were concealed from the light of their fires by the low ground of the ravine.  After halting a few moments on the bank Massie discovered a few paces above him a large log which had fallen across the gully.  On this log he determined to cross.  Seven or eight of the men, on their hands and knees, had crossed over and crouched low, had got within twelve or fifteen paces of the Indians, when too many got on the log at one time, and as it was old and rotten, it broke with a loud crash that startled the Indians.  The whites who had crossed over immediately fired into the camp shouting as they ran.  The Indians fled, and though none were killed, there were found blood upon the clothing and blankets they left in their camp.  No attempt was made to pursue them.  Their camp was plundered of the horses and arms, making altogether considerable booty.  The march was at once resumed, the party traveling the rest of the night and until noon the next day.  Wearied and hungry, they then halted to prepare some dinner and rest a little.  After taking some refreshments they loitered about the fires a short time and then resumed their march through snow and brush, reaching Manchester about midnight, after a fatiguing march of two days and nights from the head of Caesar's Creek.
     On the last day of their march about a mile North of where West Union now stands, one of the men who rode one of the horses and carried a bag of Indian plunder, dropped it and did not miss it until they arrived at Manchester.  Two of the men next day took fresh horses and rode back to look for the lost plunder.  They found the bag some distance South of the hill and concluded they would go to the brow of it to look over for deer.  When they reached it they found where a large party of Indians who had followed to the top of the hill had stopped to eat their breakfast.  Had those Indians pursued the trail one hundred yards farther they would have found the b__g and lain in wait for the whites to return, and would, doubtless, have killed or taken those who returned for it.  This was truly a narrow escape.

THE LAST INDIAN FIGHT.

     We quote from McDonald's sketches:  "In the year 1795 while Wayne was in treaty with the Indians, a company came out from Manchester on the Ohio river to explore the North-western territory, and especially the Scioto.  Gen. Massie was in this little band.  After proceeding several days cautiously, they fell on Paint creek, near the falls.  Here they found fresh Indian signs and had not traveled far before they heard the bells of horses'.  Some of the company were what were called new hands, and previous to this wanted much to smell Indian powder.  One of the company, who had fought in the Revolutionary War, and also with the Indians, said to one of these vaunting follows: "If you do you will run, or I am much mistaken."  A council was now called.  Some of the most experienced thought it was too late to retreat, and thought it best to take the enemy by surprise.  Gen. Massie, Fallenbach, and R. W. Finley, were to lead on the company, and Capt. Petty was to bring up the rear.  The Indians were encamped on Paint creek, precisely at what is called Reeve's crossing.  They come on them by surprise, and out of forty men about twenty of them fought.  Those who wanted to smell powder so much ran the other way and hid behind logs; and Capt. Petty reported afterwards that they had the ague, they were so much frightened.  The battle was soon ended in favor of the whites, for the Indians fled across the creek and left all they had but their guns.  Several were killed and wounded, and one white man, a Mr. Robinson was shot through the body and died immediately.  These Indians had one male prisoner with them, who made his escape to the whites and was brought home to his relatives.  As soon as the company could gather up all the horses and skins and other plunder, they retreated for the settlement at Manchester, on the Ohio River.  Night overtook them on the waters of Scioto Brush creek, and as they expected to be followed by the Indians they made preparations for the skirmish.  The next morning, an hour before day, the attack was made with vigor on the part of the Indians, and was resisted as manfully on the part of the whites.  There being a  sink hole near, those bragging cowards got down into it to prevent the balls from hitting them.  Several horses were killed, and one man, a Mr. Gilfillan, shot through the thigh.  After an hour's contest the Indians retreated, and the company arrived at the place they started from, having lost one man killed and one man wounded.  Thus ended the exploring of the valley of the Scioto this year.
     This was the last Indian fight that took place during the old Indian war, and the last fight ever occurred in Adams county, or on the waters of the Scioto.  The location of this fight was in Franklin township, about three miles north-east of Locust Grove, on t he Washington branch of Scioto Brush creek, at a spring called Washington's Spring.  This creek and spring received their names from Mrs. Betty Wetherton, a widow lady who was among the first to settle there.  The premises on which this event took place are now the premises of Mrs. Sarah Moomaw, widow of John Moomaw, now deceased.  The house stand on the east bank of the stream near this spring which supplies the water for the household.