| This township originally
constituted a part of Franklin township, but in 1809,
when Washington was organized, it became a part of that
township, and so remained until 1813, when it was laid
out and organized under its present name. It, at
that time, included what is now the south part of Perry,
until that township was established, in 1820.
There was no post-office until 1852, and the inhabitants
were obliged to go a considerable distance to obtain
their mail, as well as for all purposes of trade.
This township has settled up very slowly, especially the
northern and western portions. The first
settlements were made along the river, and afterwards in
the southern part. SETTLEMENTS.
The first settlers in what is
now known as Norwich township, were Daniel Brunk
and family, who settled half a mile south on Hayden run,
in 1807.
Rev. Benjamin Britton settled on land, next
south of Brunk, at the same time. He was a
Christian, or "New Light" preacher, and early organized
a church of the denomination to which he belonged, on
land near by, which at that time, belonged to Joseph
Carr, but which was not occupied. Mr.
Britton was assisted by Rev. Mr. Fisher, of
Worthington. A log structure was built for use, as
a church, but was occupied but a few years, when the
church died out, and the building was fitted up and used
as a dwelling house. The members of the church,
afterwards, joined with the congregation at Dublin.
The First Cemetery in Norwich township
was on the land at that time owned by Daniel BRUNK.
The name of the first person buried there is not now
known.
Isaac Grace settled east of Mr. BRITTON,
near the Scioto river, about the same time. He was
a Methodist preacher, and an early member of Christie
Methodist church at Dublin.
George Rager settled near Hayden run, soon after
the settlement of Britton and Grace. Like many
others, of that day, he was a firm believer in the
supernatural, and as strong a believer in the
supernatural, and a strong a believer in the efficacy of
the silver bullet to cause the death of a witch.
Peter Latimer
was born in Connecticut, and, when
about two years old, was taken to Pennsylvania, where he
spent his early life. He was married, while living
there, and, on one occasion, himself and wife were
obliged to seek safety from the Indians, by flight into
the woods. They hid between two logs, and
distinctly heard the Indians, as they searched the woods
for them, but, fortunately, they remained undiscovered.
In 1811, they emigrated to Ohio, and settled in
Norwich township, on land now owned by William
ARMISTEAD, where Mr. LATHNER, purchased a
large tract. He sold from this, after a time,
until he had a farm of but one hundred and fifty acres
left. He carried the first mail from Columbus to
Zanesville, on horseback, and also carried the mail from
Columbus to Bellefontaine, many years. He raised
eight children, five of whom are now living, as follows:
Harriet, in Illinois; Elizabeth, in Iowa;
Sallie (Mrs. McCoy), in Perry township, this county;
Naomi J. ( Mrs. Williams), at Chittenden hotel,
Columbus, and John, in the gold mines of Alaska.
Mr. Latimer has been a resident of Columbus
during the past fourteen years, making his home with his
daughter, Mrs. N. J. Williams. He is now in
the ninety-eighth year of his age.
The next settler below Britton and Grace, was Samuel
DAVIS, who came to the township, with his family, in
1814. He was born in Connecticut, and in 1785
emigrated to Kentucky, when about twenty years of age.
He was there employed by Major Simon Kenton, as a
spy among the Indians, to warn settlers of intended
raids by the savages. There were twelve men thus
employed, six being on duty at a time. He served
as a spy three years, and at one time, when trapping
with a man named CAMPBELL, both were captured by
the Indians, when camped on the Big Sandy. They
were tightly bound, for security, but his bonds hurt him
so that he could not sleep. The Indian who had
charge of him inquired what was the matter, and when
informed, directed one of his young men to loosen his
thongs. Mr. DAVIS watched his opportunity,
leaped across a small run into a thicket and escaped,
but with scarcely any clothing. For six days he
traveled, with no food, other than wild roots, in a cold
March air, until he reached the settlement. CAMPBELL
was taken to Detroit, and sold to a Frenchman, whence he
eventually obtained his freedom.
After the close of the Indian war, General MASSEY
and thirty men came to Ohio and laid out the town of
Chillicothe. Mr. DAVIS and General
McARTHUR, afterwards governor of Ohio, were employed
as hunters for the camp of Chillicothe, where they came
in about 1796. Samuel DAVIS was married, in
Kentucky, to Elizabeth SMITH. His son,
Asa, was born at Graham station, in Kentucky, a few
weeks before they came to Ohio. After the survey
of Chillicothe was made, he received a lot in the town,
on which he built a house, where he lived one year.
At the end of that time he bought land in the Peewee
bottoms, where he remained two years. He then
moved into Buckskin township, Ross county, where he
purchased five hundred acres of land, on which he
resided until 1814, clearing and improving his farm.
In 1814 he came to Norwich, where he bought three
hundred and eighty acres from Mr. TERRY, of
Highland county, who owned the property. When in
Connecticut he
Pg. 492 -
learned the silversmith business, but on
his settlement in Kentucky worked at blacksmithing and
gun-smithing. He started a shop on his land, in
Norwich township, where he worked until just before his
death, in 1849, hiring the clearing of his farm.
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, from
Connecticut, and served two years. He was also in
the war of 1812, a short time. At the time of his
death he was a Revolutionary pensioner. His wife
died in 1844. They raised ten children - Asa,
Orange, George, Anson, Moses, Buriah, Samuel, James,
Elizabeth, and Smith. Elizabeth
married Benjamin Sells, and lives in Washington
township, near Hayden run. The children all
settled in Washington and Norwich townships.
Asa lives in Norwich, a short distance south of
Hayden run; Samuel and Smith have homes a
short distance south of Dublin. Samuel Davis,
his son, Asa, and Ebenezer Richards bored
two wells, in the river, on Dr. Davis' farm, for
the purpose of obtaining salt. After boring to the
depth of one hundred feet in each, they gave them up,
having passed through the rock. They then went to
Delaware county, where they sunk a well over five
hundred feet deep, and found a strong white sulphur
stream. They were obliged to give up the work, on
account of the prevailing sickness of that season, and
never again resumed it. The land is now occupied
by the State girls' industrial school. Asa
DAVIS settled on the farm with his father rafter
giving up the salt-well. He worked the place, and
shortly bought it from his father, on condition, that he
furnish each of his brothers with one hundred acres of
land. Since that time he has added to his farm,
and increased his property. In August, 1879, over
eleven thousand dollars of money that he had in
Pickley's bank, at Columbus, was stolen from the vault
during business hours. In 1845 he married Mrs.
Lucy J. McDOWELL, and has had five children, four of
whom are now living. Tow daughters are married,
and live in the vicinity, and one daughter and a son
live at home. Mr. DAVIS was a soldier in
the war of 1812, and now receives a pension on account
of his services. He has also received one hundred
and sixty acres of land. He is now about
eighty-four years of age, and the oldest settler in
Norwich township.
A man named
Hopper was an early settler on the
south bank of Slate run. He had the first cabin
north of the three mile cabin, at the State quarries, in
Franklinton.
William Armistead emigrated from Virginia to
Ohio in 1808, and in 1809 settled a mile below Hayden
run, where he bought three hundred acres of land, which
he cleared and improved. He was twice married, and
raised five children, two of whom live in the township,
and one in Kansas. The others are not now living.
On his death, Mr. Armistead willed his property
to his wife. She soon gave up her claim, and the
property was sold to Michael WALTON, and the
proceeds divided among the children.
Asa Wilcox settled on the river road, on land
now owned by David ELLIOTT, in about 1811.
He did not make a purchase there, but a number of years
later bought land on the Hilliard pike, now owned by
Abraham SELLS. Robert Elliott came from Pennsylvania in about
1810, and bought land on the river road, and north of
the present location of Wesley church. His wife
was a daughter of Daniel BRUNK, and by her he had
several children. His son, Daniel ELLIOTT,
now owns and occupies the home farm.
A
Mr. Everett settled on the land adjoining
ELLIOTT, on the south, in about 1812.
Henry McCracken was an early settler near the
present farm of Abraham SELLS.
Ephraim Fisher was born in Maryland, and came from
there to Jefferson county, Ohio, where he remained some
years. In 1814 he, with his father and Elias
PEGG, bought six hundred and twenty-five acres of
land a mile and three-fourths southeast of Hilliard.
In 1816 they moved to Franklinton, where Mr. Pegg
finally settled, selling his part of the land in Norwich
to Moses HART, in 1819. In 1818 Mr.
FISHER built a cabin on his land, and occupied it.
It was a small home, twelve by fourteen feet in size,
and with no floor. He split oak clapboards on
which to place their bed, and soon made a comfortable
home. They came to the country in a large
Pennsylvania wagon, drawn by four horses, and brought
with them two cows and calves. Their cows and one
calf died of murrain, and they were obliged to go two
miles through the woods for what milk they used.
His son, George FISHER, was then nine years of
age. His clothing, when a boy, consisted of
buckskin, for many years, until flax could be raised.
Ephraim FISHER died in 1838, and willed his
property to his children. On the sale of the land,
George FISHER bought the property, on which he
now lives. Ephraim FISHER was twice
married, and has had eleven children, most of whom are
now dead. One son lives in Hilliard.
George FISHER married Sarah LATIMER, and has
had eight children, two of whom are William PRICE, T.
BENTLEY, and B. ANDERSON.
Mr. Cutler settled south of Hillard a mile and a
half, as early as 1816, where he bought and improved a
farm. He sold to S. WINECUP, and he to
Daniel O. ROBERTS. It is now owned by
William ROBERTS. The CUTLERS moved to
Franklinton, after selling their property.
Moses Hart settled north of Ephraim
FISHER,
in 1819, where he built a cabin and cleared the land;
his purchase was made from Elias PEGG. His
children numbered six, four sons and two daughters.
Moses HART, jr., his son, now lives on the land,
aged about eighty-eight years.
Harmon Groom settled south of Moses HART,
in the same year, and built a cabin and cleared about
six acres of land. In 1825, he sold to HART,
and moved into Prairie township.
Martin Miller, and others, leased land west of
George FISHER, at that time owned by a man in
Kentucky. The property is now owned by Benjamin
and Elias SCOFIELD.
Francis Wilcox came to Ohio, from Canada, in
1810, and settled in Franklinton. In about 1812,
he moved into the southeast corner of Norwich township,
and cleared the land now owned by E. WILSON.
About 1820, he bought one hundred acres of land, a
mile and a half west of his first settlement, where he
died. He deeded
Pg. 493 -
his property to his son, Peter,
who now occupies the land. He married Tryphena
WATTS, in 1827, and has one daughter living near
Hilliard.
Samuel King came from Pennsylvania to
Chillicothe, in about 1800. Afterwards, he bought
land in Clinton and Sharon townships, and made his home
in Clinton, where he worked in a tannery.
Samuel M. KING, his son, was born in Cinton, in
1807, and, in 1840, bought fifty acres of land near
Hilliard, on which he now lives.
John Laird settled on land south of, and
adjoining, the present village of Hilliard, in 1820 or
1821. He improved the land, and lived there until
about 1840, when he sold out and moved west.
Daniel Roberts settled a mile and a half south
of Hilliard, about 1823; he had a wife, but no children.
Robert, his brother, settled in Washington
township, a little later, and, while visiting in
Norwich, he died. His son, William, was
raised by Daniel ROBERTS, who left his property
to him. The children of William ROBERTS now
live a mile and a half south of Hilliard.
John McCan settled west of Hilliard, in 1821,
the same year that VANSCHOYCK came to the
township.
Ezekiel Latimer and wife, with one child,
came from Connecticut, in about 1822. They moved
with two wagons, drawn by a team of horses and oxen,
respectively. Lines LATIMER, a couslin of
Ezekiel, came at the same time. They
bought, together, one hundred acres of land, in the
southeast part of the township, now owned by Albert
SCRINGER. Lines sold his share to Ezekiel,
after a few years. The widow of Ezekiel
LATIMER now lives with her daughter, Mrs. George
FISHER, aged eighty-four years.
William Watts came from New York, in 1804, and
settled two years in Franklin township, where he rented
land of Lucas SULLIVANT. In 1816, he moved
into Perry township, then part of Norwich, where he
cleared land and made a home, which he deeded to his
son. He died in Washington township, where another
son lived.
Samuel Paxton, settled in Perry, where he
married Amy WILCOX, and remained several years.
In 1823 they removed to Norwich, where he rented
and leased land several years. In 1823 they
removed to Norwich, where he rented and leased land
several years. He finally settled on a lot of
fifty acres, given his wife by her father. He live
don the farm near Hilliard, and cleared the land, and
died there in 1849, of cholera. His wife and
children sold their interest in the property, and the
children went to different parts of the country.
One daughter lives in Union county. Mr. PAXTON
lives three miles southeast of Hilliard.
David Thomas settled on the north part of the
land now owned by Daniel ROBERTS, in about 1820
or 1821. He was a batchelor, from Virginia, and
his original purchase comprised four hundred acres of
land.
David Smiley settled on the river road about the
same year, and Daniel D. Lattimer came at the
same time.
Edmund Warren
emigrated from Connecticut with
his father, in 1819. They settled in Athens county,
where he married Maria HYDE, in 1830. In
1836, he bought seventy-two and one-half acres of land
in the Selden survey, number three thousand and two, a
short distance northeast from Hilliard. A
clearing of about four acres had been made by Stanton
POLAND, a renter, previous to his purchase.
Isaac DAVIDSON had charge of the land. Mr.
WARREN has since added to his original purchase,
and now has one hundred and ten acres, which he has
cleared and improved. Two of his sons now live on the
place with him.
Isaac Davidson settled in Norwich in
1832. lie bought seven hundred acres of land, but the
title proving defective, he lost his first purchase
money. The matter was finally settled, and he sold a
part of the land to Edmond WARREN.
Abraham Sells
was born in Franklinton, in
1806. In 1809 his father moved to Washington, and
located a mile west of Dublin, on Indian run, where
Mr. SELLS passed his early days. In about
1840 he came to Norwich, and bought land east of
Hilliard, where he now resides. A pioneer association
was formed at a grove on his farm, the past summer
[1879]. Mr. SELLS has a fine grove and a
beautiful location for picnic excursions, and intends to
fit his grounds for the convenience of such parties. A
short distance below the picnic ground is as fine and
pure a spring of water as can be found anywhere, and in
the river are boats, with a fine slack water for over
two miles. This place will soon become a favorite resort
for pleasure seekers. The camping ground of chief
CRANE, of the Wyandot tribe of Indians, is shown a
short distance from the spring.
Jonathan HOMMONS, WILKINS, DULING, Amos
KIDWELL, John HISER, and Smith DOOLAN,
settled in the woods northwest of Hilliard about 1840,
where they made clearings, and improved farms.
Some have sold their property, and moved elsewhere, and
others remain in their land.
Charles Peyton and family emigrated from
Virginia, in 1833. They remained in Zanesville eighteen
months, where he worked in a mill. In 1835 they went to
Jonathan's creek, in Muskingum county, and in 1842, to
Perry county, in both of which places he worked at
milling. In 1846 he leased land in the south part of
Norwich township, near the Scioto river, and in 1852
bought eighty-seven acres, a mile south of Hilliard, in
the woods. He has cleared and improved the land,
and now occupies it. His son, James, lives on the
farm, a short distance from the home of his parents.
Apollos Rogers came to Ohio from New York
State, and bought three hundred acres of land in the
Bellfield survey. A small clearing had been made when he
came on to occupy the land. He died in 1844, and his
property is now owned by his three sons—Marcellus,
Martin, and Milton.
Daniel Avery came from Pennsylvania in
1820, and settled in Perry township, near the Scioto
river, on land now owned by Mr. MATTHEWS.
lie remained but about two years, when he moved on land
owned by Joshua DAVIS. From there he went
to Worthington, and in about 1829 settled two miles
south of Hilliard. In 1834 he went to Illinois. He was a
carpenter, and helped to
Pg. 494 -
erect many buildings in
Norwich. His son, P. S. AVERY, lived in
Washington township from 1836 to 1840. In the latter
year he bought a farm northwest of Hilliard, with a
clearing of about fifteen acres, made by Alfred
LATHAM, who had a lease of the land, then owned
by J. S. BRITTON. Mr. AVERY has cleared
and improved the land.
EVENTS.
The first orchard planted in
Norwich was by Samuel DAVIS, in 1814. He
purchased the trees for his orchard from Lucas
SULLIVANT, at Franklinton.
The first burial ground was on land belonging to
Daniel BRUNK, in the north part of the
township. The name of the first person buried there
cannot now be ascertained. Since the first ground was
opened, many grounds have been used on private lands.
One was started at an early date, on the lot belonging
to, and adjoining, Wesley M. E. church, and another is
located opposite the home of Marcellus ROGERS.
About 1833, a saw-mill was erected on the Scioto river,
by Samuel WILCOX. A few years later—about
1845— Joseph CORBIN built a grist-mill at
the same place, which is still in operation. Both mills
are now owned, and managed, by Frederick
FISHINGER.
Dr. STREETER was the first physician who
located in Norwich. He was not a regular physician, but
practiced medicine in the neighborhood. Dr.
HAMILTON came to Norwich, about 1846, and remained
several years, when he removed to Columbus. Dr.
HOOD, also, practiced in the township for a time.
Dr. W. H. JEWETT was the first physician to
settle in Hilliard, soon after the village was laid out.
Dr. TAGGART practiced a short time in
Hilliard, after JEWETT came. Dr. R. Z.
SEEDS located at Hilliard, in 1869, and continues in
practice there. Dr. MERRYMAN come soon
after Dr. SEEDS.
The steam saw-mill, at Hilliard, was built by James
RALSTON and KIRKPATRICK, in 1854. It has
since changed hands many times, and is now owned by
William M. GILL, in trust for J. H.
SIMPKINS.
The warehouse, at Hilliard station, was built by
John R. HILLIARD, in 1853. Was afterwards owned by
P. S. AVERY, then by Benjamin SELLS,
and, at the present time, by Conrad KOEKLER.
Miskell SAIMDERS was a justice of the
peace, in Norwich, in 1833. It is not known in what year
he came to the township. His death occurred by a fall
from a horse. The harness used by early settlers was
often unique, being, sometimes, composed of hickory
withes, basswood bark, and moosewood.
Lamps were made by scraping a hole in a turnip, which
was filled with grease and a tow wick to burn. The light
was never very strong, but the early settlers had no
daily papers to read after the day's work was done, and
generally were too tired to read, had there been plenty
of reading matter.
Wheat was winnowed by swinging sheets, a splint riddle
being used. Two men swung' the sheet, and another
handled the riddle.
A grand squirrel hunt was celebrated in 1830, which
lasted two days. Prizes were given for the most scalps
produced. Abraham SELLS took the first
prize, amounting to eighty bushels of corn, he having
killed one hundred and fifty squirrels. The second prize
was given to Moses DAVIS, for killing one
hundred and forty squirrels, and consisted of forty
bushels of corn. Several thousand squirrels were killed
during the two days' hunt.
This township has never yet had a town-house or hall,
though, at the present time, the trustees, with a
committee from the council at Hilliard, are considering
the propriety of erecting a suitable town-hall, which
will undoubtedly be clone very soon. From 1813 to 1820,
when Norwich included the southern portion of Perry
township, it was entitled to three justices of the
peace. From 1820 until 1851 it had but two, and since
the latter date it has been allowed three. Among the
justices were: Daniel BRUNK, in 1813;
Thomas BACKUS and Ebenezer RICAHRDS,
in 1814; Daniel BRUNK and Robert
ELLIOT, in 1816; Amaziah Hutchinson, in 1S17;
Messrs. Brunk and ELLIOT again in
1819; Mr. Brunk and John McCAN, in 1822;
L. L. LATIMER and Mr. McCAN, again
in 1825; John WEEDEN and George
BLACK, in 1828; David SMILEY, in 1830;
Miner PICKLE, in 1831; Miskell
SAUNDERS, in 1833. On the stone over the grave of
the latter is the inscription: "He died a Christian and
a Democrat." While of the former there is a shadow of a
suspicion, of the latter there is no doubt. The township
officers for 1879, are: John W. HOWARD, Andrew
HUFFMAN, and Daniel ROBERTS,
trustees; W. A. CRUM, clerk; J. M. MERRYMAN,
treasurer; Jacob ROMICK, assessor;
Orange SELLS and William WALTON,
justices of the peace; John FISHER and
George HARPER, constables.SCHOOLS.
The first school in the
township was opened in a log building at SMILEY's
corners, on the river road, and was in operation in
about 1814. A special school-district was cut off, in
Hilliard, in 1870, although schools had been kept at and
near the place for many years previous to that date. In
1878 the brick school-house was condemned as insecure,
and was torn down. A new one was erected during the
year, which is adapted for four schools, three of which
are in operation at this time. Besides the school at
Hilliard, the township is well supplied with
district-schools, nearly all of which are provided with
substantial brick school-houses.
POST-OFFICE.
The first post-office in
Norwich township was established in the spring of 1852,
at a place called SMILEY's Corners. David
SMILEY was the first postmaster. This office was
discontinued in 1S54, and the same year an office was
established at Hilliard, with John W. DOBYNS as
postmaster. He remained in charge of the office several
years, and was succeeded by James S. WRIGHT. On
his death, in 1804, Orange SELLS was
appointed to the office, which he still holds. It was
kept at a private house until Mr. SELLS
was appointed. He removed it to the warehouse, and
railroad station, which was in his charge. The first
quarter after he took it, the business of the office
doubled, and during the year increased fourfold. In
July, 1879, it was made a money-order office.
Dr. R. ZENAS SEEDS
Dr. R. Zenas
Seeds was born in
Jackson township, Franklin
county, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1845.
His parents were Dr. John
Seeds and Asenath Seeds
(Britton), both of whom were
born in the United States, the
former in Ohio and the latter in
Virginia. When but four
years of age his father died,
leaving his mother with a family
of seven children, himself the
youngest. His early life
was one of privation and
hardship. Until he arrived
at the age of fourteen, his
education was obtained at the
district-school, three miles
distant, and was consequently
very limited. He spent the
winters, from his fourteenth to
the eighteenth year, at the
Union schools of Mechanicsburg,
Champaign county, working on the
farm of his Uncle, Lewus
Britton, during the summer
months. He then went to
Antioch college, Green county,
Ohio, where he finished his
literary education in the fall
of 1867. His early hopes
and aspirations were to be a
physician, and when a boy he was
always, in mimicry, making
"pills and powders."
During his college course he had
paid particular attention to
those branches of study most
nearly connected with the
science of medicine, and now
resolved to adopt that as his
profession.
He attended his first course of lectures at Starling |
|
Medical college, Columbus, in
the winter of 1868-69, and
graduated second in a class of
seventy-two members, in the
winter of 1869-70. He then
returned to his adopted home in
Hilliard, and to his uncle,
James S. Britton, who had
always been his best, friend in
his attempts to obtain an
education and prepare himself
for his life work, both
pecuniarily and by his sound
advice.
He was married to Electa Davis, eldest daughter
of Asa Davis, esq., and
grand-daughter of Samuel
Davis, one of Franklin
county's first settlers, who was
a comrade of ex-governor
McArthur, and several times
at prisoner of the Indians.
Asa Davis when but a boy
was in the war of 1812, with
"Mad Anthony Wayne" in
some of his marches against the
hostile savages.
Dr. Seeds was in the war of the Rebellion,
although but nineteen eyars of
age. He and an older
brother were with General
Sherman until after the
capture of Kenesaw mountain.
His brother, Dr. S. M. Seeds,
remained with the army as
assistant surgeon of the
Thirteenth Ohio volunteer
infantry, until the close of the
war. In the spring of 1870
Dr. R. Z. Seeds commenced
the practice of medicine at his
present home, in Hilliard, where
he has built up a practice and a
character that any person might
well be proud of. |
Pg. 495 -
Mail
was carried by Peter Latimer for many years,
between Columbus and Urbana. He always made the
journey on horseback.
CHURCHES
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH
was organized, as a
class, in Norwich, about 1832. Preaching was had,
by local ministers, in Armistead's barn, and in other
places, until 1836, when a small frame church was
erected, on the site of the present church, a little
south of the present residence of D. Elliott, on
the river road. In 1850 the frame church was torn
down, after standing two years, and was then rebuilt.
It was again blown down, within a year, and was rebuilt
a third time. The early members were: Abner
Clapp and family, William Armistead, M. McCracken, ___
Morehead, ____ Glasscock, and others. Rev.
J. D. Smith, a local preacher, was instrumental in
putting forward the project of first building a church.
The present membership is about forty-five. A
Sunday-school of about seventy members is sustained.
ST. JACOB EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
(German)
was organized in the south part of Norwich, near the
line of Norwich township, in 1847. Among the first
members were: Matthias Fladt, Matthias Spindler,
John Koener, and others. A hewed log house was
built soon after the church was organized, which was
used until 1872, when a substantial brick church edifice
was erected, at a cost of five thousand, one hundred
dollars. The old log house has been used for some
years for a church school, at which reading and writing,
German, and the church catechism, are taught by Rev.
Henry Horst, the pastor. The church as had
three pastors: Rev. Adam Ernst being the
first, Rev. H. Bauer, the second and Rev.
Henry Horst, the present pastor, who has been in
charge of the congregation during the past seventeen
years. The present membership of the church is
forty voting members, and abut sixty families. The
present membership of the church is forty voting
members, and about sixty families. The number of
scholars in the church school is about forty. This
school does not interfere with their attendance at the
public schools, but is in addition to that.
A Church of the United Brethren was organized at the
old log school-house, east of Hilliard, about 1852, but
it was continued only a year.
COLWILL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized
in the winter of 1876-7, and a house of worship erected,
about two miles southwest of Hilliard. The first
members were: John Colwill and wife, Philip
Clover and wife, Mr. Harlow and wife, Henry Culp and
wife, Harvey Simpkins and wife, and others. A
Sunday-school, during the summer and fall, has been
sustained two years. Rev. Isaac Mackey, of
Hilliard, is a pastor of this church.
THE DISCIPLE CHURCH
at Hilliard, was built about
1853, as a union church, by members of the Christian
church and members of the Disciple church. The
Christian church was organized the first, and kept its
membership together until about 1877, since which time
they have not had regular services. The Disciple
church was organized two years after the Christian
church, or about 1855. The first members were:
A. M. A. Forshee and wife, Nathan Landecker and wife,
and others. The membership is small. The
first members of the Christian church were:
Thomas Dobyns, wife and family, Solomon McCullough,
and others. But two services are held monthly in
this church, and the Disciples having preaching once,
the Adventists once, during the month, the services
being two weeks apart. A Sunday-school is
regularly sustained by the congregations of this church.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
at Hilliard, was
the first organized as a class, in a log school-house,
east of the present village of Hilliard, about 1842.
Meetings were held there, with local preaching, until
about 1853, when the school-house was burned by some
persons, who did not wish church services held there.
In 1854 the class was divided on the question of
building a church, eight of the members being in favor
of building near the old site, and seven insisting on
erecting a church at Hilliard station. The party
in favor of a house of worship at Hilliard circulated a
subscription paper, and met with such good success that,
in 1854, the church was built. Samuel Crum
was one of the most efficient members of erecting the
new church, and superintended, and did a great share of
the work, of building. The original class
consisted of Hosea Britton and family, John Britton
and wife, Jacob Moyer, Mr. Doolan, Edmond Warren and
wife, Rachel Gray, and others. The members who
formed the class at Hilliard were: Samuel Crum
and wife, Mrs. Gray and three sons, and Anna
Vanschoyck. After the church was built, the
class rapidly increased until, in 1876, it numbered over
three hundred members. Sine that time two
independent classes have been formed, outside of the
Hilliard Church; one called Colwill church, southwest of
Hilliard, about two miles, near the line of Brown
township, and one at Churchman's in the western part of
Washington township, where a church is being erected in
1879. The Colwill church is already completed.
The present church at Hilliard numbers some two hundred
members, under the pastorate of the Rev. Isaac Mackey,
who lives in a neat brick parsonage, owned by and
adjoining the church. The circuit preachers, when
the church was built at Hilliard, were Revs.
Archibald Fleming and Bradford Cook. A
Sabbath-school, of about one hundred members, is
sustained, under the superintendence of Hosea Romick.
HAMILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This society was organized, at an early date , by
Rev. Dr. Hoge, of Columbus. They aided the
Methodists in the erection of the church building at
Walnut Hill, and held their meetings therein until the
erection of the brick church south of Mr.
Shoaf's. This church was built about 1841 or 1842.
The organization has run down, and no meetings have been
held for several years. The church is now used by the
grange.
The United Brethren had a church organization at
Lockbourne for many years until within the last few
years. The class was formed at the former dwelling of
Samuel Ranck, about the year 1842, by
William K. McCabe, the first circuit preacher. There
has been prior to this time, local preaching in the
neighborhood by Rev. Louis Kramer and others of
the denomination, for several years. Preaching was held
at Mr. Ranck's on the Dresbach
place, in Madison township, this county, as early as
1837. The earliest members of the class were Samuel
Ranck and wife, Daniel Dresbach and
wife, Henry Hammond and wife, and H. P.
Jeffers and wife. Meetings were held
regularly at Mr. Ranck's every two weeks,
until the building of the frame meeting house in
Lockbourne, which was commenced in 1843, and completed
and occupied in 1844. Local preaching had been held
before this in the school house in Lockbourne. The
society in its infancy met with opposition, and even
persecution, from a class of individuals who had no
regard for religious teaching, and the school house was
finally locked against them. The church of the society
was open to all orthodox denominations, and the
Methodists and the Lutherans also occupied it for a
time. The church numbered at one time about fifty
members, but it was substantially broken up a number of
years ago, and on meetings have been held at the church
for three years; and a year ago it was sold to the
village of Lockbourne for a town hall.
Mr. Ranck was the
leader of the class, and the leading member of the
church many years.
SOCIETIES
Norwich
Lodge, No. 385, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, was chartered June 25, 1867, by the
grand lodge of the State. It was
instituted the same date. The charter
members were
James C. Gray, William Roberts, J. H. Kidwell, W. M.
Gill, Moses Latham, P. S. Avery, David Smiley,
William H. Jewett, William M. Walton, Daniel
Latham, and
Henry S. Baldwin. the first officers
were:
J. H. Kidwell, N. G.; Moses Lathan, V. G.;
J. C. Gray, F. S.; William Roberts,
treasurer; William Gill, P. S. ; David
Smiley, C.; John T. Jewett, I. G.;
Tilghman Grim, O. G.; P. S. Avery R.
S. N. G.; W. M. Walton, L. S. N. G.;
W. W. Sells, R. S. V. G.; W. H. Jewett,
L. S. V. G.; David Latham, R. S. S.;
H. Baldwin, L. S. S. Since its organization
the lodge has occupied a rented hall, but some
years since it purchased a building lot, on
which will be built, at some time in the future,
a lodge hall. The lodge has in its
possession a small fund in readiness to use for
building purposes. The present officers
for 1879, are: J. W. Wintringer, N. G.;
W. F. Henery, V. G.; David Reese, F.
S.; Wm. M. Gill, P. S.; John Hart,
treasurer; T. R. McNorton, W.; A. S.
Hager,
C.; J. F. Ball, O. G.; John R. Fisher,
I. G.; John Hart, R. S. N. G.; A. M.
A. Forshee, L. S. N. G.; E. Fisher,
R. S. N. G.;
George Fisher, L. S. N. G.; J. H. Homan,
R. S. S.; N. Ellis, L. S. S.
Avery Lodge, No. 493, Free and Accepted Masons,
was chartered August 19, 1873, after working
nearly a year under dispensation. The
charter members were
J. T. Black, William Hatton, J. E. Moling, Edward S.
Churchman, R. Z. Seeds, Clark Glover, Alexander
Davidson, P. S. Avery, and Henry Culp.
The first officers were: J. T. Black,
W. M.; R. G. Seeds, S. W.; J. E.
Moling, J. W.. The present
officers for 1879, are:
J. E. Moling, W. M.; Alexander Davidson,
S. W.; John Koehler, J. W.; Clark,
Glover,
S. D.; Nathan Scofield, J. D.; W. A.
Crum, secretary; John Hart,
treasurer; Abraham Orihood, tyler.
Before the lodge commenced working, the members
and friends of the fraternity subscribed money,
and in 1872 they added a second story to the
store building of John Westerwiller,
which was completed and dedicated as a masonic
hall. Meetings are held the first and
third Tuesdays in each month.
INDIANS
The bank of the
Scioto, in Norwich township was a favorite
camping-ground of the Wyandots. The
old chief, Crane, had his camp on the land now
owned by Abraham Sells, and with members of his
band occupied the land at times for some time after the
arrival of the first settlers. The river was, at
that time, filled with the finest of fish, among them
the large yellow salmon; for be it remembered that at
that time the land had not been cultivated, and the
water of the Scioto was pure and clear, it being fed
mainly by springs. This noble fish is long
since driven away, and by the damming of the river many
other fine fish cannot come to the upper waters of the
stream. The forests along the banks, and back into
the country, were filled with game, and this was a
paradise for the red man.
BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES
MRS. EMULA ROGERS
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