Source:  History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers West Union, Ohio Published by E. B. Stivers 1900 PART II. CHAPTER XII TIFFIN TOWNSHIP p. 468      Tiffin Township was organized in 1806, as will be seen by referring to the chapter devoted to the "Organization of the Townships."  It was named in honor of Edward Tiffin, Ohio's first and one of her wisest Governors. First Settlers.      Joseph Eyler built the first cabin in this township where he afterwards made his home near Killinstown, in the winter of 1795.  The Eyler farm of 300 acres is now owned by John Crawford, Samuel McFeeters and Sandy Craigmile.  When Rev. James B. Finley passed over Tod's Trace from Limestone to Chillicothe with his father's cattle and "niggers" in 1796, he noted the fact that there was a cabin near where the town of West Union now stands, built by Mr. Oiler, but no one lived in it.  Daniel Collier, about this time, selected a site for his future home on one of the most beautiful terraces along Ohio Brush Creek, known to this day as the "Collier farm."  Just below him on the creek was Duncan McKenzie.  Andrew Ellison took up his residence on Lick Fork near the old stone house which he built in 1798, where the town of Waterford was laid out.  Richard Harrison about the same time located at Waterford and kept a tavern there.  John Treber built a cabin in 1796 a half mile further down Lick Fork where the old tavern building yet stands, and Peter Shoemaker, Simon Shoemaker, John Shepherd, and Thomas Davis located near by on Ohio Brush Creek.  Job Dinning, John Killin, Jacob Piatt, James Ralston, and Adam Hempleman located in the vicinity of Killinstown.  Simon Fields settled further east on Brush Creek.  George Harper, James Collins, James January and Robert McClanahan located near West Union. Surface and Soil.      Being diversified with hill and dale, rivulet and creek, ridge and plain, the township has within it some of the richest and some of the poorest lands in the county.  The soil, highly impregnated with iron on the "red ridges," is fertile.  The marl flats are thin soils, and the bald marl hillsides are barren.  But the sugar tree coves and the bottom loams along the streams are very fertile. Streams.      Ohio Brush Creek, a beautiful little river, forms the northeastern and eastern boundary of the township.  Lick Fork is its longest tributary in the township.  It rises at a spring near West Union and flows northeast uniting with Ohio Brush Creek at the Sproull bridge.  Beasley's Fork also takes its source from a spring in West Union, flows southeast and unites with Ohio Brush Creek opposite the Nathan Foster farm in Greene Township.  A branch of the East Fork of Eagle Creek rises in the western part of the township and flows south along its western border. Churches.      Among the early churches of the county, the Baptist organization on Soldier's Run, in this township should have due notice.  This church was orgnaized at the house of James CArson in June, 1802, by Rev. Thomas Ellrod, with the following named membership: James Carson, Elizabeth CArson, David Thomas, Patrick Killen, Nathaniel Foster, Priscilla Lovejoy and Eve Ellrod.  For years meetings were held at Carson's or at Osman's schoolhouse.  In 1836 a frame meeting house was erected on a lot purchased from Abraham Newkirk.      The pastors of the church have been: Thomas Ellrod, John Harover, Jacob Layman, David Spohn, Hiram Burnett, Lyman Whitney, David Vance, Hugh Kelley, Henry Dinkleman, and Frances Fear.  Of the early deacons, tehre were: James Carson, Nathaniel Foster, John Hamilton, Samuel Mason, F. C. Fear, Alpheus Humble and John Osman.  Clerks: David Briggs, Bartholomew Anderson, William F. James, William Parks and F. C. Fear.  The old church building has long since been abandoned, and the organization united with West Union congregation.      OAK GROVE - The Christian, or "New Light," Church known as Oak Grove, about three miles from West Union, in the northwestern part of the township was organized by Elders Davidson, Garroutte and Pangburn in 1867, with the following membership:  Hester Lowe, Sarah Postlewaite, Margaret Russell, Elizabeth Howland, Jonathan Postlewaite, Huldah Lewis, Levi C. Howland, Andrew Gillespie, Sarah Russell, Sarah L. Gillespie, and Matilda Billiter.      STONE CHAPEL - The society from which this church sprung was nearly contemporaneous with that at Moore's on Scioto Brush Creek.  In 1797 Joseph Moore organized a class in Methodism at Isaac Wamsley's house, constructed from logs in 1802, was known as Fields'.  It was afterwards known as Burkett's, and later upon the erection of the present structure, "Stone Chapel."  There is a graveyard there, but owing to a thick ledge of stone lying near the surface of the ground, it is not used much as a place of burial.      This church is on the West Union and Cedar Mills turnpike, about five miles to the east of West Union, and two miles from the crossing of Ohio Brush Creek.  It is built of dressed limestone and is in a very good state of preservation.      SATTERFIELD'S CHAPEL is on the Cedar Mills pike about four miles east of West Union.  It is a Christian Union organization and the church building, a comfortable frame, was erected in 1875 by Wesley Satterfield, a wealthy farmer of that vicinity.  Archie Craigmile, Van R. McCarty, John B. Denning, John Steele, Asbury Beard and their wives formed the first organization in 1868, at Compton's schoolhouse. Schools.      The township has nine sub-districts and one Village Special. No. Males. Females. No. Males Females. 1 18 16 6 37 28 2 21 19 7 25 27 3 18 19 8 22 22 4 26 25 9 16 20 6 26 30            WEST UNION, the present county seat of Adams County, was established by act of the Legislature, April 13, 1803.  The act named Isaac Davis, John Evans, and James Menary, Commissioners to select a site for the new seat of justice.  They were required to make their report in duplicate, one to the Speaker of the Senate, Nathaniel Massie, and one to the Court of Common Pleas which latter were prohibited from expending any more money for public buildings until the seat of justice should be permanently located.      January 16, 1804, the Commissioners having made their report, recommending a site about one-half mile south of Zane's Trace, on lands owned by Robert McClanahan, and near the central portion of the county, an act was passed to locate the county seat there permanently.  The act provided for the purchase of the lands of McClanahan and others adjoining to an amount not exceeding 150 acres at eight dollars per acre, by the Associate Judges of the county and to be paid for out of the county treasury on their order; the title to said lands to be vested in a Board of Trustees, composed of Nathaniel Beasley, William Marshall, Salathiel Sparks, Aaron Moore, Benjamin Wood, William Collings and John Briggs.  This board was required to appoint a Clerk and a Surveyor, and to proceed to lay off lots with convenient streets for the new town to be named West Union, and to make and record a plat of the same.  Notice of the sale of lots was required to be published for thirty days in the Scioto Gazette, of Chillicothe.  The County Commissioners were empowered to dispose of county property at Washington.  When the number of lot owners reached thirty-, they were required to meet and elect a new Board of Trustees to succeed the board appointed by the act.  Members of the Board were elected annually thereafter.      The town proper stands upon one hundred acres purchased from Robert McClanahan for seven hundred and sixty dollars.  What is known as Harper's Addition consisted of five acres north of Mulberry Street for which was paid the sum of one dollar.  Priscilla Anderson sold five acres adjoining McClanahan's for forty dollars, so that the original plat of West Union cost $801.  It sold at the public sale of lots for $2,985.      From the record book kept by the Board, now in the possession of William C. Coryell, of West Union, we glean the following:      Monday, March 19, 1804.  Trustees chose William Collings, Clerk and Nathaniel Beasley, Surveyor.      Tuesday, March 20.  The Trustees met at nine o'clock A. M. and proceeded to survey and stake off the inlots, until six o'clock P. M., and then adjourned. BIRDS EYE VIEW, WEST UNION, OHIO Looking West from Children's Home.      Wednesday, March 21.  The Trustees met at half-past nine o'clock A. M. and proceeded to survey and stake off the inlots until half-past twelve o'clock and then adjourned.      Friday, March 30.  Appeared A. Moore, B. Wood, N. Beasley, S. Sparks, William Marshall and William Collings, half-past ten o'clock A. M., and employed Robert McClanahan to assist them and then proceeded to survey and stake off the inlots until half-past five o'clock P. M., and then adjourned.      March 31, 1804.  The Trustees met at nine o'clock A. M. and proceeded to lay out and stake off inlots until half-past five o'clock P. M., in which time Henry Rape came and made application for the house [log Street] that is on said lots, and the said Trustees gave their obligation to keep said Rape in peaceable possession of said house from the ninth day of April next until the first day of the sale of said lots, in considerable of said Rape giving his obligation to said Trustees for eight dollars payable the first day of May next.      Monday, April 30, 1804.  Appeared A. Moore, B. Wood, N. Beasley, S. Sparks, J. Briggs, and William Collings at one o'clock P. M., and delivered a plat of the town of West Union unto Joseph Darlinton, Recorder of the County of the Adams, and then adjourned.      There were one hundred and eleven inlots and twenty outlots on the plat.      Thursday, May 17, 1804.  The Trustees of the town of West Union met in said town for the purpose of selling lots in said town at public sale, and chose John Lodwick to vendue said sale, who sold as follows, viz.: Outlots. Purchaser. Price.   Outlots. Purchaser Price. 1. Thomas Nicholson $15   11 David Bradford $32 2. Clairburn Fox 18   12 John Little 28 3. Clairburn Fox 31   113 John Armstrong 27 4. Peter Schultz 43   14 John Briggs 28 5. Peter Schultz 36   15 John Brown 20 6. Leonard Cole 34   16 John Brown 30 7. Jesse Eastbrn 29   17 John Brown 23 8. William Robertson 23   18 David Bradford 33 9. Benjamin Wood 30   19 David Bradford 20 10. David Bradford 38   20 John Brown 25   Inlots. Purchaser. Price.   Inlots Purchaser Price. 1. Isaac Foster $6   57 Joseph Darlinton $18 2. Joseph Lovejoy 5   58 Joseph Darlinton 18 3. James Anderson 6   59 James Chambers 20 4. Wm. Morrison 8   60 Alexander Meek 30 5. Daniel Robbins 6   61 Jesse Eastburn 46 6. Elijah Rinker 7   62 Jacob Sample 54 7. Andrew Ellison 6   63 Reserved for ....... 8. Daniel Marlatt 12   64 Court House ....... 9. .............. .........   65 David Bradford 75 10. David Decamp 6   66 Thos. James 87 11. David Decamp 5   67 Reserved for Jail ....... 12. David Edie 4   68 John Kincaid 56 13. Joseph Beam 4   69 Thomas Kirker 27 14. John Shirley 6   70 Job Denning 9 15. John Briggs 7   71 Robert Anderson 8 16. John Briggs 13   72 Ed. McLoughlin 12 17. John Davidson 15   73 Wm. Robertson 35 18. Paul Larsh 18   74 James Chambers 41 19 Andrew Ellison 14   75 David Bradford 50 20. Andrew Ellison 10   76 Leonard Cole 50 21 Peter Shultz 21   77 Reserved for .... ........ 22. Peter Shultz 51   78 Court Hosue ........ 23. Pete Shultz 31   79 Eliljah Rinker 78 24 Peter Shultz 31   80 John Brown 43 25. John Shirley 9   81 John Rodgers 40 26. John Shirley 11   82 John Brown 27 27. John Killin 6   83 Aquilla Smith 17 28. Jacob Treber 5   84 Joseph Darlinton 17 29. Josiah Wade 6   85 Job Denning 4 30. Charles Larsh 7   86 Lydia Roberts 10 31. John Killin 25   87 James McComas 14 32 Enoch Ogle 22   88 Arthur McFarland 20 33. Wm. Armstrong 23   89 Joseph Curry 20 34. Wm. Armstrong 27   90 John Brown 55 35. Peter Shultz 31   91 Clairborne Fox 40 36. Benjamin Wood 27   92 Elijah Walden 37 37. Leonard Cole 45   93 Arthur McFarland 36 38. Wm. Steen 40   94 Benjamin Wood 30 39. John Rodgers 45   95 Isaac Earl 5 40. Thomas Mason 25   96 Enoch Ogle 5 41. W. Hannah 9   97 Jacob Treber 6 42. W. Hannah 11   98 ...... ........ 43. Paul Larsh 11   99 Isaac Foster 9 44. Leonard Cole 27   100 Isaac Foster 10 45. Henry Rape 70   101 Joseph Lovejoy 4 46. Reserved ........   102 Thoams Kirker 13 47. Wm. Collings 65   103 Thomas Palmer 8 48. John Armstrong 59   104 George Harper 8 49. Benjamin Wood 61   105 Aaron Moore 7 50. Leoanrd Cole 56   106 James Williams 22 51. Johnston Armstrong 63   107 Barth9olomew Anderson 21 52. John S. Little 67   108 S. Sparks 11 53. Thomas Nicholson 37   109 Thomas Kincaid 7 54. Peter Grant 37   110 Josiah Wade 6 55. Jacob Treber 17   111 Josiah Wade 6 56. Joseph Darlinton 16   -          Saturday, May 19, 1804.  Trustees met and took up obligations, and gave certificates to purchasers.  Certificates were given John Brown for lots purchased by Claiburn Fox.      All lots are laid off north and south, east by west, six poles by nine poles, except lot No. 14 is four poles at the south end, and five at the north end and nine poles long.  Lot No. 15, is five poles at the south end and six poles at the north end.  Lot No. 85 is six poles by four and one-quarter poles.  All streets running through the inlots and outlots are four poles wide.  The street between the inlots and outlots is three poles wide, and lots are twenty-three poles long and fourteen wide except lot No. 1 is fifteen and two thirds poles at the south end, and fourteen and one-half poles long.  Lot No. 14 is fourteen and two thirds poles at the north end and sixteen and one-half poles at the south end and twenty-three long.  No. 15 is sixteen and one-half poles at the north end and seventeen and two-thirds at the south end and twenty-six poles long.  No. 8 is nine and seven eighths poles at the north end and eight and one-quarter poles at the south end and twenty-three poles long.  No. 7 is nine and seven-eighths poles at the south end and eleven and three-quarters poles at the north end and twenty-three poles long.  And Nos. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are twenty-six poles long.  The street of the north side of the town is three poles wide; and on the east and west of the inlots the streets are one and one-half poles wide and on the east, west and south of the outlots the streets are two poles wide. April 30, 1804. N. Beasley, Salathiel Sparks Benjamin Wood, John Briggs, Aaron Moore, William Collings. Trustees of the Town of West Union State of Ohio, Adams County, ss.      I do certify that this day the within named John Briggs, Benjamin Wood, Salathiel Sparks, William Collings and Aaron Moore personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid and acknowledged the within plat of West Union and their signing the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein laid down.      In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord 1804. [SEAL] N. Beasley      In conformity to the act entitled.  "An Act to establish the Permanent Seat of Justice of the County of Adams," we the undersigned do reserve the following inlots in the town of West Union for the following purposes, to-wit:  Lots numbers 63, 64, 77 and 78 for a Courthouse, etc.  No. 67 for a Public Jail, and lot number 46 for a Public Spring and Schoolhouse.  Given under our hands this sixteenth day of May, 1804.   Hosea Moore, David Edie, Needham Parry, Associate Judges of Adams County First House and First Stores.      Henry Rape built the first house, a hewed log building, on lot No. 45. He was a hatter and in this house he lived and made hats for many yeas.  A room ten by twelve, in this house, William Armstrong used for a store until he erected the building known as the Mullen corner in 1810, southwest corner Main and Cross Streets.  On the northeast corner of Main and Market Streets, William Russell, afterwards Congressman from Adams District, built a two story log house and opened a small store in 1806.  The same year John Hood opened a store in a large hewed log building belonging to Peter Shultz on the northwest corner of the old mill lot.  Mr. Hood afterwards erected a building on the southeast corner of Main and Cross Streets. Early Taverns.      THE OLD BRADFORD TAVERN, northeast corner of Main and Cherry Streets, since known as the Marlatt House, Crawford House, and Downing House, was erected by David Bradford who had kept a tavern at Washington while the county seat, in 1806, and was opened to the public in 1807.  It is an historic old hostelry, having sheltered President Jackson, Thomas Benton, Henry Clay, General Santa Anna, and hosts of lesser lights in the days of the old stage line from Maysville to Chillicothe, and on to Washington City.      WOOD'S TAVERN, southeast corner Main and Market Streets, was opened in 1807 also.  The house was built by John Lodwick and used by him as a private residence from 1804 to 1807.  In later years Edmund Browning kept there "Browning's Inn at the sign of the Goddess of Liberty."      THE BELL TAVERN, on Main Street west of the Public Spring, was kept by John Hayslip for many years in the early days of West Union and was a popular hostelry for the old settlers' Fourth of July banquets. Tannery.      The first tannery in West Union was operated by Peter Shultz in 1805.  It was on the old mill lot. Tinshop.      The first tinshop opened in West Union was in 1820 by Daniel Boyle, a sketch of whose life is in this volume Lodges.      The oldest lodge in West Union, and the parent Masonic lodge of Adams County, is West Union Lodge, No. 43, F. and A. M., whose charter was granted by the Grand Lodge at Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 15m 1820.  The charter members were:  Abraham Hollingsworth, W. M.; Samuel Treat, S. W.; John Kincaid, J. W.; John Fisher, Secretary; James Ross, George Bryan and Aaron Wilson.      In a recent communication to the West Union Scion, the venerable David Dunbar, of Manchester, states some interesting facts with reference to the Masonic lodge at West Union which should be preserved for future generations.  It was a like spirit of political prejudice and religious  Page 475 - bigotry that prevented the location of the Western Theological Seminary from being located in West Union, because it was argued that the Presbyterians, who were then Jeffersonian Democrats, were conspiring with Andrew Jackson to overthrow the government of the United States.  General Jackson was then in 1825 chairman of the Board of Commissioners, selected by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to locate the above named seminary in the district composed of Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana, and he and the Hon. John Thompson, of Chillicothe, and Dr. Blackburn, of Lexington, Ky., a majority of the committee, favored West Union.  But the radicals and fanatics of the community would not have it for the reasons named.  And unfortunately for West Union, it failed to secure, years afterwards, the site of a state institution - the Asylum for the Insane, now at Athens - because the Virginia blood of Adams County's member of the Legislature at the time chilled at the thought of having "the crazy people" of the State domiciled in "Old Adams."  Mr. Dunbar says:      "Folowing the abduction and death of Morgan, excitement was intense, and soon it had extended to all parts of the country.  So strong, too, was the feeling engendered, that for a time the system of national government seemed imperiled.  A new, and in some states very powerful political party was formed, its general object being to war against secret societies, especially Masons, and more specifically still to prevent the election of Masons to public office.  the most absurd and ridiculous reports of the secret work and conduct of Masons were circulatel and found ready belief.  The strife invaded and divided churches, communities were disturbed by angry disputes between neighbors, and friends became embitered against friends.      "It was during these memorable times that I was living in West Union, the place of my birth, and though a youth of scarcely more than ten years of age, I was a deeply interested observer and student of the situation.  The excitement in West Union rose to a high pitch, and soon involved all conditions of society - religious, political and social - in the tempest of passion and out of which soon were formed two antagonistic parties, Masonic and Anti-Masonic.  Each party had its newspaper, the Anti-Masonic being published by my brother-in-law, David Murray, with Rev. Dyer Burgess as assistant, while the Masonic organ was issued by a gentleman named Patterson, who, I think came from Clermont County.      "Here it was that I received my first impression and formed my first conclusions regarding Ancient Craft Masonry, and young as I was I perceived that the better citizens within and around the town were either Masons or in sympathy with their cause.  I give here the names of some of them that I recollect:  Abraham Hollingsworth, William Allen, Daniel P. Wilkins, James roff, John Kincaid, Adam McGovney, Thomas Thoroman, Rev. William Page, John McDaid, Robert McDaid, Nicholas Burwell, Wesley Lee.  It was after observing that men like these stood firmly together on the question then being agitated that I resolved if I should reach the age of manhood, and be  found worthy, I would become a Mason.      "As I now remember, the last work done in West Union Lodge after the fierce opposition to the Order overspread the country, was about 1831, and about 1835 the persecution became so intensely hostile that the lodge surrendered its charter and jewels.  In consequence of this action Page 476 - no lodge work was done until 1846.  During this interval I had grown to manhood, and in the year 1845, trusting that I had the necessary qualifications, I petitioned Confidence Lodge No. 52, of Maysville, Ky., and was found worthy of membership.  My reason for petitioning a Kentucky lodge was that there was none working in my own state jurisdiction nearer than Cincinnati.  consequently I received the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft  and Master degrees, as before stated, in Confidence Lodge, of Maysville.  By this time a number of others of the younger men of the vicinity had elsewhere received the degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry and they, with some of the elder brethren, whose names I have already given, met (June, 1846) in what is now known as the Old Bank Building to take steps to repossess the surrendered lodge charter and jewels, in order that work might be resumed.  Among those were the following:  Isaac Foster, M. V. Cooper, D. W. Stableton, Henry Y. Copple, John C. Scott, Benjamin Bowman, William Adams, Edward Townley, David Dunbar and Benjamin Pinney.  Of these I am now the only one living.  Other meetings were held monthly until October, when the lodge charter and jewels were restored, upon which, having received a dimit from confidence Lodge, I became a member.      "After resumpton of regular work by West Union lodge the first candidate to be initiated was the late I. H. DeBruin, and following his admission, I remember the names of these: William M. Meek, James N. Hook, Joseph F. Eyler, James Sparks, Abner Sparks, Oliver Sparks.      "I remained affiliated with West Union Lodge No. 43 for thirteen years at the expiration of which time Manchester Lodge No. 317, was instituted (1859) and I became a charter member and have been identified with it ever since.      In 1871, I received the Royal Arch Chapter degrees in Manchester Chapter, No. 129, and in 1873 was invested with the order of the Red Cross, Knights Templar and Knights of Malta degrees in Calvary Commandery, No. 13, of Portsmouth, but am now a meber of Maysville Commandery, No. 10.      "I presume I am the oldest Mason within Adams County, and although the infirmities of age creep on apace my zeal for our ancient and honorable institution has not abated.      "This being written solely from memory may contain mistakes, which would not be remarkable considering the lapse of years, but it is in the main correct."      WEST UNION LODGE, No. 510, I. O. O. F., was instituted on the evening of June 11, 1874.  The charter members were:  J. W. Eyler, William Hood, J. W. Bunn, L. P. Stivers, F. J. Miller and E. R. Wells.      CRYSTAL LODGE, No. 114, K. of P., was instituted June 12, 1878, with the following charter members:  C. E. Irwin, F. D. Bayless, John A. Eylar, J. H. Connor, Willis Ellison, W. F. Kilpatrick, G. F. Thomas.  John W. Hook, S. N. Bradford, M. R. Brittingham, W. F. Lloyd, A. E. McCormick, C. Frederick Mair, Oliver Smeltzer and Frank Hayslip.  F. D. Bayliss was P. C. and first representative; John Hook, C. C.; G. F. Thomas, V. C.; John A. Eylar, Prelate; W. F. Lloyd, M. of F.; J. H. Connor, M. of E.; Frank Hayslip, K. of R. and S.; C. E. Irwin, M. A.; Oliver Smeltzer, I. G.; Willis Ellison, O. G. Churches.      The oldest church organization in West Union is the Presbyterian.  This church was formerly organized on East Fork of Eagle Creek by Rev. John Dunlevy and Rev. Richard McNemar about the year 1800.  The great Shaker revival in Kentucky had its effect here, and finally resulted in the expulsion of Dunlevy from the Eagle Creek Congregation, whereupon he joined the Shakers in Warren County in 1805.  About this date Rev. William Williamson, who was then in the vicinity of Cabin Creek, Kentucky, held occasional services with the remnant of the Eagle Creek Congregation.      In 1809 a movement was set on foot to build a church house in West Union.  The congregation was weakened from dissensions and divisions, many members having joined the Cherry Fork Church, and had only been held together by the patient care of Joseph Darlinton, William Marshall, and James Baird, ruling elders.  A subscription list headed by Thomas Kirker, Joseph Darlinton and Joseph Nelson, was circulated and enough subscribed in labor, linen, cattle, wheat, and cash to warrant the letting of the contract for the church building.  It was to be a stone structure, the present building in the main, and Thomas Metcalf, afterwards Governor of Kentucky, was awarded the contract for the stone work, all material to be on the ground, at $250, May 26, 1810.      Hamilton Dunbar had the contract for the carpenter work, and Job Denning the contract for hauling the stone from the quarry to the ground where they were to be used.     THE M. E. CHURCH - The nucleus of this congregation was formed at the residence of Peter Shultz, in 1807, by Rev. John Collins, of the Scioto Circuit.  The members of the first class were William Russell, leader, Mrs. Russell, William Armstrong and wife, Peter Shultz and wife, Mary Rape, Mary Woodward, Mrs. Nancy Cole and Mrs. Hannah Hood.  It was at the house of Peter Shultz that Rev. James B. Finley, who had been known as the "New Market Devil," attempted to preach one of his first sermons.      In 1819 the present site of the church was secured and in 1820 a brick building was erected on it.  In 1868 it was removed and the present brick edifice erected.  Rev. Greenbery R. Jones, while Presiding Elder, built the frame house on Main Street near the Public well, recently occupied by Mrs. Stewart, where he resided for several years.      THE BAPTIST CHURCH - At the house of William Mahaffey, northwest of West Union, in 1833, this association was organized by Elder J. Layman.  The society struggled along until 1846, when a building was erected in West Unon.  This was destroyed by the great tornado of May, 1860, and in 1861 the present structure at the west end of Main Street was erected.      THE CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH - The organization of this church was formed directly following the Civil War, when dissensions in the Methodist Church over politics brought about the organization of the Christian Union Society.  The Christian Union Church building is a neat frame located at the northwest corner of Mulberry and Market Streets.  The leading spirits in the organization of this church in West Union were Page 478 - General J. R. Cockerill, John K. Billings, Dr. F. J. Miller, and John Laughridge.  The church was dedicated Mar. 1, 1869, by Rev. A. S. Biddison, editor of the Christian Witness, Columbus, Ohio. The West Union Band.      The "famous" West Union Band was organized Mar. 18, 1850, by Prof. R. P. Robbins, with the following named members: David B. Graham, Eb clarionet; James Moore, Bb clarionet; Samuel Burwell cornet; Joseph W. Hayslip, valve post horn; Henry Woodrow, Bb bugle; Joseph Killin, valve trumpet; Thomas N. Allen, tenor trombone; W. W. Killin, bass trombone; Dr. W. C. Hayslip, ophicleide; Henry Ousler, bass drum and cymbals.  Prof. Robbins Marlatt Hotel, a famous hostelry a half century ago. Newspapers.      POLITICAL CENSOR - The first newspaper printed in Adams County was the Political Cennsor, a small sheet issued from an old Ramage press by James Finley, at West Union, in 1815.  The office was in the late Uriah Upp property.      THE VILLAGE REGISTER, the next newspaper, was first issued in 1823 by Vorheese and Wood.  It was afterwards controlled by Beasley and Murray, and called The Register and Advocate.  Its last issue was in 1831, the office then being in the lower story of the house where Caroline Worstell now resides on Mulberry Street.  Files on this paper are now well preserved in the possession of O. E. Hood, of West Union, whose father when eleven years of age entered the Register office as an apprentice under the publishers Nashee and Bailhatchee.      THE COURIER OF LIBERTY, an Anti-Masonic organ, was printed by a "Yankee" named Jacob Crapsey, from 1831 to 1833, when for lack of patronage it expired.  Crapsey taught school at Manchester and read law in West Union, from which place he went to Cincinnati to practice in the legal profession.      THE WEST UNION REGISTER, Jacksonian Democrat, succeeded the Courier, and was edited by the first real newspaper man in the county, George Menary, a brother of the celebrated Samuel Menary, of The Ohio Statesman.  Menary left West Union and went to Clermont County in 1835, where he published a newspaper.      THE FREE PRESS, was published a short time from the Courier office as an Anti Masonic and Wig newspaper, by Jackman and Carl.  In 1835 the material was sold to James H. Smith, then County Recorder who published it as a whig advocate until 1839.      THE ADAMS COUNTY DEMOCRAT was first issued in 1844 by Lewis A. Patterson.  Then it was controlled by Joseph P. Patterson and W. N. Clarke, who in term were succeded by the late Judge John M. Smith, father of Joseph P. Smith, whose biography appears in this volume, who made the paper one of the most radical Democratic organs in the State.  R. P. Brown succeeded Judge Smith in 1849, and confined the publication until 1860. THE SCION OFFICE, WEST UNION Page 479 -      THE DEMOCRATIC UNION was issued in 1860 by T. J. Mullen and J. K. Billings in opposition to The Adams County Democrat.  In 1861, John P. Patterson became proprietor, who was succeeded in 1863 by Joh A. Cockerill and S. E. Pearson.  this was the beginning of the brilliant newspaper career of John A. Cockerill.  See biography in this volume.  William K. Billings succeeded Cockerill in 1865, when shortly thereafter the paper suspended.      THE SCION - This newspaper first made its appearance Feb. 17, 1853, as The Scion of Temperance, Samuel Burwell, editor and proprietor.  In May, 1865, the name was changed to The West Union Scion which it still retains.  It is the oldest newspaper published in the county, and its venerable editor and proprietor is the oldest newspaper man in the State.  The engraving showing the Scion office, represents Mr. Burwell at his "case" setting an editorial or a local as he has done for a half century.  The Scion is Republican in politics, and has the largest circulation of any Newspaper in the county except, perhaps, The Defender.      THE PEOPLE'S DEFENDER was first issued Friday, Jan. 16, 1866, by Joseph W. Eyler, now of the News-Democrat, George town, Ohio.  The Defender is a radical Democratic organ and is ably edited by Edward A. Crawford, who succeeded Mr. Eyler in 1890. It has a very large circulation and its editorials are quoted by the Democratic press throughout southern Ohio.      THE ADAMS COUNTY NEW ERA was issued by a joint-stock company of disgruntled Republicans in opposition to The Scion in 1877. with C. E. Irwin, editor.  Irwin was an "importation" and came heralded as the destroyer of The Scion and the modern Moses of the Republican party in Adams County.  He was a forceful writer, but bitter and resentful, and he sadly failed in his mission, dying from disease incurred through worry and disappointment, in 1887.  The New Era is now conducted by Samuel E. Davidson, and is Republican in politics. Public Schools.      The present public school system was inaugurated by adopting the "Akron Law" in 1856.  A vote to adopt the provisions of that act gave twenty-seven majority, old Dodge Darlinton, one of the "fossil" clogs of the wheels of progress in West Union, leading the opposition.  John M. Smith, J. R. Cockerill, J. W. Lafferty, E. P. Evans, Henry Ousler and J. P. Hood constituted the first Board of Directors.  A two story brick building of four rooms was erected on the site of the present commodious building, at a cost of $2,500.      The present building was erected in 1886.  The present enrollment is:  White males, 158 females, 162.  Colored males, 2; females.  Number of teachers employed, 5.      Previous to the inauguration of the graded schools under the Akron Law, the village of West Union, with contiguous territory, was divided into two school districts.  One of the schoolhouses was a log structure and stood south of the old Presbyterian Church.  The other schoolhouse was brick, now the residence of Mrs. Lina Lawler on North Cherry Street. Page 480 - The Wilson Soldiers' Monument.   REMINISCENCES. Jacob Treber's Bear Hunt Page 481 - "Bloody Bridge"   Killing of Samuel Greenlee. Page 482 - Reminiscences of West Union.   NEW COUNTY JAIL, WEST UNION Page 483 -      Henry Rape purchased the lot on which was built McClanahan's house west of the public well.  He occupied it for a hatter's shop and residence for a long time.      Ephraim Cole died about 1833, at the age of eighty-four, in the house now occupied by Jabez Eagle.  He was a tall, spare man and of a taciturn disposition.  It is said that he was a widower at the time of his death.  The place of his burial is not known, but it is supposed to be in the Collings burying ground or the Village Cemetery.       The Village Cemetery was dedicated 1834, by deed from Robert Wood and wife to certain persons who had friends buried there before 1834.  The spot was used as a cemetery as early as 1816.  The first interment was one Miles, who died a stranger, in 1816, in West Union.  The deed of original dedication calls for three-fourths of an acre.  Miles was buried near the old gate, where a walnut tree stood for many years.  Nicholas Burwell was present at Miles' interment and gave the account of it to his son Samuel, who gave it to the writer.      The Lovejoy graveyard was dedicated in 1840, but it had been occupied for a cemetery long before then.      The house now occupied by Wm. Lafferty, where he conducts his furniture business, was built by Hon. William Russell, who owns through to the next street south, and included the spring situate in the rear.  Mr. Russell built the present frame front of the house and the addition and wing to the south, which was afterwards changed by Wesley Lee and remains to this day as Wesley Lee changed it.      The Bradford Hotel, formerly the Marlatt House, was built in 1806, by David Bradford and occupied by him from that date until the day of his death in 1834.  After his death is was occupied by his grandson, Samuel G. Bradford will about 1840.      The Florentine Hotel MORE TO COME LATER   One Cent Reward.   Smith's Tannery.            < BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS > NOTES: