SETTLEMENT.

     Hugh Grant, who was a native of Maryland, removed to Pittsburgh, and there married Catharine Barr.  In 1804, he came with his family, then numbering five, to Ohio, locating first in Ross county.  while there he purchased some four hundred and fifty acres of land, in Jackson township, and, in the spring of 1805, he removed to this township, but, not knowing the exact location of his purchase, he "squatted" on land near the river, where he was killed not long afterwards, and his widow eventually located on the land above mentioned, where she passed the remainder of her life, dying Aug. 17, 1836.  Mr. Grant was a great hunter, and it is said that he killed eighty-two deer during one fall.  The children were: Alexander, who married Lucy Parish, and eventually located in Hancock county, Ohio, where he died; Jacob, who became a soldier in the war of 1812, contracted a disease, then known as the "cold plague," came home, and died; Isabella, who became the wife of Benjamin Wood, lived the greater part of her life in Jackson township, and is now deceased; Nancy, who remained single, and died in Jackson township a few years since; Mary who was twice married, and died in Kansas, and Hugh,, who was the youngest child (born June 30, 1807), and the only one now living, still lives upon the farm; he has been twice married - first to Leah Diemer by whom he had eleven children; next to Mary J. Scott, by whom he had three children.  Mr. Grant is, without doubt, the oldest person now living in the township, who was born here.

     Jonas Orders was, by birth, a Virginian.  He was one of General Wayne's Indian fighters, and, receiving his discharge at Detroit, was on his way home, when, reaching Franklinton, then but a small collection of log huts, He was taken sick.  While here, he became acquainted

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with Sarah Ford, whom he subsequently married.  For a time he lived on what is now the Fullerton farm, in Jackson township.  In 1829 or 1830, he bought the farm now owned by his son, Michael where he died in January, 1863; his wife died many years previous.  Of the sixteen children composing this family, but three are now living:  Allen who married Mary Gallion; Michael who married Phebe Lowe, and Joshua, who married Fanny O'Neal.  They are all prominent farmers, and live in Jackson township.

     John Curry, who was of English extraction, first saw the light of day upon the broad bosom of the Atlantic ocean, while his parents were en route for America.  His mother dying before reaching land, the child was adopted by an aunt (Mrs. McGath), and came to live in Deer Creek township, Pickaway county, in about 1801.  There he grew to manhood, and married Sarah Smith, with whom he eventually settled in Brown township.  Both he and his wife are now dead.  The children were: Aaron, who lives in Indiana; James, who married Catharine Shultz, and lives in Jackson township, the owner of nearly nine hundred acres of land; Owen T., and Elizabeth, who are dead; Amos, who married Elizabeth Studebaker, and lives in Wells county, Indiana; and John, who married Mary Ballard, and lives near Harrisburg, in this township.

     Samuel Breckenridge came from the State of Pennsylvania to Franklin county, in about 1800.  His wife was Margaret Starrett.  The family settled in Hamilton township, and there the parents died.  The children were: Robert, Alexander, Samuel, John, William, Elizabeth, Mary, and Nancy, now of whom are now living.

     Percival Adams, also a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Hamilton township, about 1800.  His wife was Margaret Breckenridge.  The date of his death was September, 1865.  One of his sons, Thomas, settled in Jackson township, and married Elizabeth Barbee.  He died Aug. 7, 1872, and his wife Mar. 30, 1866.  Of his children, T. J. Adams, esq., is the only one living in the township.  Franklin B. another son, was a member of company B, Fifty-fourth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and was killed at Pittsburg Landing, Apr. 6, 1862.

     William C. Duff was a native of the Emerald Isle from whence he emigrated to this land of freedom, in the year 1800.  In Pennsylvania he married Catharine Dungan, who lived at Norristown, and, in 1806, he reached Ohio, locating on the farm now owned by John Brown, in Jackson township.  He was a wheelright by occupation.  He died in 1827, and his widow became the wife of Dennis Queen, and died in 1851.  The children numbered six, only two of whom now live in their native township: William B., whose present wife was Mrs. Jane Lazalier, and Margaret, now the wife of W. Preston.  Two others, John and Nancy (Mrs. M. Parish), live in Indiana.

     James Seeds, having purchased one thousand acres of land in Daniel Morgan's survey, number one thousand two hundred and ninety six, moved thereon with nearly his entire family, at an early date.  The children were: Robert, who married Catharine Hornbaker; James, who married a lady in Fairfield county; Aaron, who married Miss Miller; John, who married Elizabeth Roler; William, who married Margaret Hoover; Moses, who moved to St. Louis, when single, and married there.  Robert, John, William and Aaron settled on the old homestead, and are deceased, as are the entire family of children. James Seeds was a sort of "stand by" in the settlement, and for years furnished the pioneer families with salt, which he brought, by aid of pack-horses, along a blazed path, from Zanesville.  In the general exodus of the family of Ohio, we learn, a daughter, Martha, who had become the wife of William Seeds, remained in Pennsylvania.  In the spring of 1820, this family arrived in Jackson township, and was settled also on the old homestead.  The children of this couple were: James, John, Elizabeth, William W., Robert, Henry, Isabella, Harvey, Samuel, Mary A., and Cyrus.  Two of these now live in Jackson township: William W., who married Mary Seeds, and Cyrus, who married Isabella M. Beckett.  Harvey, who married Mary A. Hatton, lives in Iowa.

     John Hoover, a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier of the Revolution, married Margaret Smith, who lived near Hummilstown, and removed to Kentucky prior to the admission of that State into the Union.  In that State he remained until the legalizing, by the constitution, of human slavery.  This measure being contrary to his convictions, he emigrated to the free State - Ohio - arriving in March, 1807.  He purchased some two hundred acres of land in Jackson township, and here, in the improvement of his wilderness home, he passed the remnant of his days.  In 1840, he died, aged nearly one hundred years.  His wife died in, perhaps, 1833.  There were nine children in the family, only one of whom now lives in the township: Margaret, widow of William Seeds.  The remainder of the family were: Elizabeth, Catharine, Peter (who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died at Franklinton, soon after the close of the war, of disease contracted in the service), Polly, Abraham, Nicholas, and George.  The last named married Catharine Kious, and died on the old farm, Mar. 17, 1872.  His wife died June 29, 1875.  Three children yet live in the township: George W., Polly (Mrs. Wm. Neiswender), and Margaret (Mrs. J. Smith).

     William Brown and wife, Harriet (Thomas) Brown, were natives of Ireland, he having been born there in 1732.  Early in the present century they emigrated to America, and for a time lived at Chillicothe.  In 1809, the family located in the northern part of Jackson township, on the stream now known as Brown's run.  The brick house built by Mr. Brown is now occupied by a son.  In the war of 1812, Mr. Brown became a soldier for a short time.  He died on Sept. 27, 1830.  Mrs. Brown survived him many yeas, dying Apr. 5, 1876.  The children were: Mary Ann, who married Jesse Courtright and who now lives in Prairie township; William C., who married Rachel Holton, lives in Indiana; John, who has been twice married - his present wife was Elizabeth Ricketts - occupies part of the old homestead; Martha J., who married D. L. Holton; and Samuel, who married Margaret J. Holton, lives in the house where he was born.  He has in his possession a double gun, which

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his father brought with him from the land of his birth.

     In the year 1810, William Miller, Joseph Bennett, and John Keyes, came with their families, from Hardy County, Virginia, and made a settlement in the southeastern portion of Jackson township.  None of the Bennett family now live in the township, and but two of the Millers, who are grandchildren - Wesley P., and Mary F. (Mrs. T. J. Adams).  John Keyes, jr., lives on Holton run, in this township, and is among the prominent farmers in the township.

    * Jacob and Magdalene Borror, of Hardy county, Virginia, were the parents of the following children: Martin, Jacob, Solomon, Isaac, Absalom, Christina and Myomi.  In 1804 the father died, and seven years later, his widow came, with her entire family, to Ohio, and made a settlement in Jackson township.  A rude log cabin was rolled up in the dense wood, and at no great distance from where now stands the substantial brick mansion now owned by Absalom, the last survivor of the children.  At this time all was a wild wilderness for miles around, there being but one log cabin nearer than Franklinton, nearly ten miles away.  But strong arms and determined hearts were equal to the occasion; little by little the forest disappeared, until now in its stead are forms, whose broad acres, with their wealth of waving wheat or rustling corn, bear witness to the success of those hardy pioneer sons of toil.  The mother lived to see this happy consummation.  The children settled as follows: Martin, who married Anna Bennett, located in southern Indiana; Jacob, who married Catharine Coonrod, died near where the family first began improvements - his son, Jacob, occupied by a son, Ichabod; Isaac, who married Olive Babcock, occupied the farm now owned by Jonathan Swagler, and many of his descendants still live in the township; Absalom, who has been twice married, lives on the home farm.  His present wife was Margaret Badger.  The writer would express his thanks to this gentleman for many items of interest.  Christina, who married P. Morris; and Myomi, who became the wife of S. Brunk located in the west.

     Henry Baumgartner came from Virginia to Jackson township, early in its settlement.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812.  Here he married Hannah Haughn.   His farm is now occupied by Jackson Hardy.  He died Dec. 24, 1868.  His wife died Mar. 27, 1877.  There were nine children in the family, three only are now living and these all reside in their native township: Catharine, who married J. Borror; Levi, whose present wife was Elizabeth McGroom; and Henry, who married Christina Miller.

     John G. Neff was among the early settlers in Prairie township.  He was twice married.  He amassed a great amount of real estate.  Eventually, he lived in Jackson township, where he died, and where his numerous offspring still reside, among whom are:  Scott, John, Leonard, McDowell, a daughter, Elizabeth (Mrs. S. Kell), who lives in Prairie township, and another, Clarissa, who lives in Illinois.

     John Mitchell was only and early settler in Jackson township.  His wife was Elizabeth Brubaker.  He purchased a piece of wild land, which he improved; this is now owned by Solomon Swagler,  of this children but one , Joseph B., now lives in the township.

     Hawes Barbee was married in Virginia, and in 1818 removed to Ohio.  He lived for a time near Shadeville, in Hamilton township, and after a few years removed to Jackson township, locating permanently on the farm now owned by Augustus Bear, and here he died.  One child, William, lives in Jackson, and another, Hawes, resides in Columbus.

     Valentine F. Shover and Elizabeth, his wife, were natives of Virginia.  They came to Ohio in 1820, but did not locate in Jackson township until 1844.  The lands  he purchased at that time are still occupied by his heirs.  Mr. Shover died in May, 1847, and his aged widow still lives in the township.  Three of the children also live here; they are: Henry, who married Caroline Miller; Harriet (Mrs. Abraham Miller); and George W., who married Jane Forst.  The remainder of the family are: John, who lives in Indiana; Sidner J., who lives in Chicago, Illinois; Ashford and Eli, who live in Ohio.

     Abraham Miller and his wife, Sarah, were natives of Virginia.  They came to Ohio in about 1811, locating in Madison county.  In 1828 a permanent settlement was make in Jackson Township.  Mr. Miller died Apr. 20, 1844.  His wife survived him several years.  Of the ten children who composed the family only three are now living; they are: Cynthia A. ( Mrs. J. B. Mitchell); Abraham, who married Harriet Shover, and lives in Jackson township upon the old homestead; Catharine, who became the wife of William C. Mitchell, and lives in Illinois.

     In 1830, Andrew Gantz, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, purchased a tract of land in Jackson township, and about one year later, two sons, Adam and John, settled thereon.  A few years subsequently, another son, Jonathan, arrived, who yet lives on the pike west of Grove City.  Adam, who married Catharine Pinnex, died in Jackson township in December, 1877; his wife died in May, 1875.  The children of this couple numbered fourteen.  Six now live in the township; Elizabeth G., (Mrs. W. P. White), Lydia (Mrs. J. W. Welch), Nancy, (Mrs. William Watts), George W., Adeline (Mrs. T. Barbee), and Albert, who lives on the home farm.  Others of the children live in the county.  John Gantz, who married Mahala Shafer, now lives in Iowa.  His settlement in Jackson, above referred to, was of short duration.

     John Haines, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, married Susan Jarvis, and, in the spring of 1831 located in Jackson township.  He was a farmer, and improved the farm now owned by Messrs, Miller & Shover.  After some years' residence here, he removed to Allen county, Ohio, where he died, Apr. 18, 1864.  His wife died many years previous, and he remarried.  The children by the first wife were: Amos, William, John, Robert, Levi, Joel, Joseph, Samuel, and Jacob, one only of whom now lives in Jackson townships - Robert, who married Nancy Mills, and now resides near the old homestead, in the south part of the township.

ZACHARIAH H. MARSH

Residence of Louis Bunn, Jackson Tp., Franklin Co., Ohio
 

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     Wesley Preston, whose father was a pioneer in Washington county, Ohio, married Margaret C. Duff, and, in the spring of 1832, came to Franklin county, locating temporarily on Big run, in Franklin township.  Nine yeas later, he purchased the land, upon which he still resides, near the center of Jackson township.  The children are: James H., whose present wife was Rosanna Smith; Catharine A. (Mrs. John S. Moler) who lives in Iowa; William H. (deceased); John D., who lives in Illinois, and has been twice married; Ezra C., who married Mattie Adams; Solomon C., who married Clara Reynolds, and lives in Illinois; David L.; George W., who married Jennie E. Swisher, and lives on the home farm; Martin L. (deceased), and Wesley H., by profession a teacher, who yet remains at home.

     John Martino came from the State of New York, at an early period, and remained for a time in Pickaway county.  There he married Catharine Woolery, and, in 1833, removed to Jackson township, locating on the farm now owned by Scott Neff.  Here he died, Sept. 23, 1869.  his wife died Jan. 4, 1856.  The children were nine in number, several of whom live in the county.  We have a record of only one - Joseph- who married Margaret Peoples.  He located on the farm still occupied by his heirs.  His death occurred Nov. 26, 1871.

     John Houghn came from near Winchester, Virginia, in 1838.  He reached Jackson township on January 2d of that year.  His lands were situated in the west central portion of the township, and were in a perfect state of nature - low and wet.  They are now as productive as any in the township.  John Houghn and wife, who was Rachel Clippert, have been dead many years, he dying first.  Five of the twelve children composing this family now live in the township: Henry, who married Abigail Holmes; Elizabeth (Mrs. F. Shover); Abraham, who married Margaret Borrer; Philip, who married Elizabeth Coonrod; and Frances (Mrs. I. Miller.

     Zachariah Marsh, who is the oldest man in the township, was born in the city of Baltimore, in the year 1787.  During the war of 1812 he came to Belmont county, Ohio.  There he married Rachel Miller.  He located in Jackson township in 1838.  His wife died Sept. 11, 1853.  His children are: Catharine, Rebecca, Hannah, John, Drusella and Elizabeth.
SHARON WICK's NOTE:  Click Here for more on Zachariah Marsh

EARLY EVENTS.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

ORGANIZATIONS.

GROVE CITY

     The lands comprised in this hamlet, as originally laid out, were owned by John Smith.  In the summer of 1852, a son-in-law, William F. Breck, caused the lands to be platted, and to this embryo village he gave the

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name it now bears.  Its growth, for years, was a slow one, but recently a new interst has sprung up, and substantial buildings are now in process of erection.  It is pleasantly situated on the Harrisburgh pike, and seven miles from Columbus.  The first election under the act of corporation, was held on May 10, 1866, at which time the following persons were elected:  Dr. Joseph Bullen, mayor; R. Higgy, recorder; William Sibray, Anton Pilger, jr., H. Anderson, J. L. Smith, L. Buckhaltz, trustees.  Following are the names of the mayors to the present:  1869, W. P. Mench; 1870, William Nichols; 1872, Joseph Pence; 1874, William Sibray; 1878, M. L. Harst, who still retains office.  The remaining officers are:  Dr. L. S. Hoover, treasurer; Thomas Sample, clerk; Dr. Francis Hoy, Henry Funk and William Bodel, coulcilmen

CHURCHES

SCIOTO CHAPEL.

JACKSON CHAPEL.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT GROVE CITY

CONCORD CHAPEL.

SALEM METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Residence of JOHN LINEBAUGH, Jackson Tp., Franklin Co., Ohio

THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ZION CHAPEL

SCHOOLS

PHYSICIANS

BIOGRAPHIES:

JOHN LINEBAUGH

THE BORRER FAMILY