Page XXVI -

     This township was formed from Kyger township, March 3d, 1811.  It contains twenty-eight full and two fractional sections of land - sections one and two, in the southeast corner of the township, being cut off by the Ohio river.  The surface is generally level, excepting in the southwestern part, which is hilly.  The soil is mostly a rich, black loam, exceedingly productive, and splendid crops of grain and vegetables are raised.  It is especially noted for the large amount of potatoes raised every year, especially in the eastern portion, the other portion being more devoted to grain, grass, and stock.  The timber is oak, hickory, black walnut, poplar, ash, sugar-maple, and buckeye.  There are extensive veins of limestone, sandstone and coal in the hills, and surface indications of iron ore and lead.  The coal is principally mined for home consumption, but in the northeastern corner of the township it is being extensively mined and shipped both by railroad and river, and is found to be a good quality for fuel.  The whole township is covered with well cultivated farms, fine farm buildings, churches and school houses.  The Ohio river margin within the township is about two miles.  The population in 1880 was 2,030.
     Among the early settlers of the township were Abram Darst, who came in 1794; Samuel Wise, John Coughenour and George W. Putnam, about 1795; Adam Rousch and George Swisher, 1797; Joseph Rife, fall of 1800; Phineas Mathews, Joseph Mauck, Samuel R. Holcomb and Jacob Rotgeb in 1811.  About the year 1794 a settlement was made upon the bank of the Ohio river, near the present village of Cheshire, land having been purchased of the Ohio Company's agent, P. Mathews.  Three cabins were built about the same time by Paul and Abram Darst, Adam Rousch and Edward McMullen.  Jonas McCarty, Christ. Coughenour, Samuel Wise, the Van Zant and Reynolds families, Peter Knopp, Jacob Halfhill, Joseph Bradbury, Sabert Scott and Jeremiah Hacket also settled here at a very early date.
     An election was held on September 4th, 1814, at which there were fifteen votes cast.  It was held at the house of John Shuler, and resulted in the election of the following officers:  Joel Higley, chairman; George Swisher and D. Rathburn, judges; D. Rathburn, clerk of election; Daniel Rathburn, Charles Scott and Phineas Mathews, trustees; Benjamin Williams, treasurer.  This was not the first election in the township, but the first of which any record has been preserved.  The present township officers are as follows:  Washington Thomas, John Evans and P. W. Swisher, trustees; Robert Mauck, treasurer; William Tate, clerk; W. S. Jenkins and M. R. Mathews, justices of the peace; A. Semly and J. Blackburn, constables.
     Kyger creek enters the northwestern part of the township, and taking a course south of east to section nine, runs south into Addision township, emptying into the Ohio river.  Little Kyger, Turkey run, Jesse creek, Story's run, Silver run and Scott's run are small streams emptying into caught in these creeks.
     One of the principal features of interest in this township is

THE OHIO BLUE SULPHUR SPRINGS.

     For over half a century these springs have been regarded in the neighborhood of their locality as possessed of valuable medicinal qualities, but their peculiar value and adaptation to certain classes of disease has never been known until shown by recent analysis and opinion by Professor Wayne, whose reputation as a scientist is sufficient guarantee of scientific certainty, and no words of the writer could strengthen the confidence of the public in his utterances.  After giving an analysis of springs numbers one and two, Professor Wayne says:
     "The water of number one, unquestionably is of medicinal value and well suited in the treatment of rheumatic affections, chronic affections of the bowels and affections of the stomach.  It is a mild, pleasant, sparkling water and may be used freely without any unpleasant consequences.  The water of number two is very different from that of number one.  The quantity of sulphate of lime and carbonate of lime is much larger, and the oxide of iron more than double and may be classed as a chalybeate medicinal water.  It has a large quantity of iron, and this alone is sufficient to give it a value to the intelligent physician."  The springs are highly recommended by James Johnson, M. D., and other physicians who have tested them.
     February 5th, 1800, Benjamin, a son of Jonas and Catherine (Circle) McCarty, was born - the first birth in the township; about 1801, occurred the first marriage - that of Abram Darst to Kate Rife.
     In 1815, Abram Rousch put up a horse-power mill for grinding grain, but the first grist mill building was erected in 1850, by Asa Brasdbury, W. S. Jenkins and Isaac Patridge.  L. C. Guthrie commenced building one of the same year at Cheshire.  The little grist mill built by Bradbury & Co has since been enlarged fifty per cent.  For the past twelve years it has been owned by J. C. Tate, and is now doing a fine business, principally custom work.  Mr. T. is engaged in adding a spoke and fellow sawing machine of his own invention, which has proved a success.
     David Tate built a water-power saw mill at an early date.  The first steam saw-mill was erected in Cheshire by J. D. & William Coughenour.  In 1848, G. W. Swisher built one near Blue Sulphur Springs.
     At an early day, Mr. Slaughter and Francis Norwood taught a school of thirty to forty scholars who came for miles around.  The school was located upon Joseph Mauck's farm - an 18 by 20 foot log building, with stick and mud chimney built outside, and the fire place for burning logs ten feet long.  The door had wooden latch and hinges, and at the end was a row of window glass and oiled paper to admit light.  It contained a puncheon floor, made of saplings split and hewed upon the upper side.  One of the old scholars of the school relates that when the rules were broken, the offender was punished by being made to take up one of these planks and go under the floor, where he remained in "durance vile" for a length of time in proportion to the character of the offense.  The tedium of this solitary confinement was relieved by poking sticks through the cracks, to the amusement as well as frequent consternation of some of the well-behaved pupils.
     The first building erected for school purposes was in 1835, one-half mile below the village of Cheshire.  The township is now divided into ten school districts, in which are located twelve fine school houses, costing from five hundred to seven hundred dollars each.  They are all frame buildings, excepting one in Cheshire village, which is a two-story brick, more particularly described in the following history of that village.  Our of the township school is for colored pupils.  The total number of scholars is as follows:  Male, 270, female, 238; male (colored), 12; female (colored), 5; attached school district, 11.  Total, 536.
     There are two postoffices in the township - Cheshire and Kyger; the former being the first one established, with Phineas Mathews, postmaster.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

     The first religious services were held at the residences of Jonas McCarty and Paul Darst, and the first church society (the Free-will Baptist) was organized at the house of the latter, December 15th, 1805, with Rev. Eli Stedman, pastor, and Edward McMillan, clerk.  The following is a list of pastors to date:  Revs. Asa Stearns, William McDowell, Abijah Hubbell, Selah Barrett, Elisha Rathburn, James Shurlliff, Osborn Miles, D. C. Topping, S. S. Branch, Lem. Thorn, G. E. Stebbins, Jeremiah Carpenter, I. Z. Henning, P. W. Perry, O. E. Barker, George Baker, A. D. Williams, William Stone, Goodwin Evans, G. W. Martin, W. J. Fulton, T. E. Peden, and R. J. Norton, the latter being the present pastor.  The following is a list of its members:  Joseph and Margaret Rife, Daniel and Anna Romine, Paul and Sarah Darst, William and Taccy Butler, Esquire Bullock, Sarah Bullock, Henry Jones, David McCarty, Jessie and Rachel Fleshman, Anthony Van Sickle, Joseph Higgins, William McDowell, Jesse Carpenter, Timothy Smith, Sabert Scott, Jonas McCarty, Charles Shepard, George W. Putnam, Phineas Mathews, Elizabeth Aleshire, Catharinre McCarty, Alsie Gray, Mrs. Eblin, Elizabeth Wright, Nancy Scott, Esther McCarty, Polly Smith, Rebecca Van Meeter and Polly Mathews.
     The first church was a log building located upon the hill on Asa Bradbury's farm, erected by the Methodists, about 1820.  No records of this church are to be found, but one of those who attended services there at an early date, says that the girls would go to church on Sunday, wearing calfskin moccasins on their feet in order to preserve their shoes, which they carried in their hands and put on their feet before entering.  The Sunday uniform of the men and boys was a shirt and pair of pants.

THE FREE-WILL NEW BAPTIST CHURCH.

is a brick building, thirty by fifty feet, erected in 1880, and cost of about two thousand dollars.  The society is entirely free from debt, and in a very prosperous condition.  Since 1841 drinking to excess has been prohibited by the rules of the church, and the penalty of dismissal for the offense is rigidly enforced.  The present pastor is Rev. R. J. Poston; David Coughenour, clerk.  Membership, 163 resident and 95 non-resident; total, 258.

THE KYGER FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

was organized April 2d, 1843, by Elder D. C. Toping.  The original membership numbered five, viz: Samuel Swisher, Sarah A. Swisher, Jacob Coughenour, Annie Coughenour, Jacob Swisher; with J. Coughenour, clerk.  A list of pastors is a follows:  1845, S. S. Barrett, who served seven years; 1852, George Stebbins, six years; 1858, R. J. Poston, four years; 1862, O. E. Parker, one year; 1863, R. J. Poston, seven years; 1870 . J. W. Haning, six years.  1872, R. J. Poston, one year; 1873,  I. Z. Martin, present pastor.  John Malaby, the present clerk, has held that position since 1866.  The present membership is 223.  The society has a nice church edifice, pleasantly located on Poplar Ridge, at a cost of one thousand.  It is out of debt, having money out at interest, and in a prosperous condition.
     The are five church buildings in the township, the Presbyterians of Cheshire village using the academy building there.  In 1840 a union Sabbeth school was established by Jacob Mauck, with about sixty scholars.

THE VILLAGE OF CHESHIRE

is located upon the banks of the Ohio river, eight miles below Pomeroy and twelve miles above Gallipolis.  It has a fine brick academy building, now used by the Presbyterian Society for church purposes.  It is two stories high, and was built in 1860, at a cost of six thousand dollars.   Over seven hundred dollars have been expended in furnishing as excellent collection of astronomical and philosophical instruments, and anatomical, botanical and geographical maps.  The village contains one hotel, several stores, flour mill and barrel factory, and not one saloon.  In 1880 it had a population of 195.

KYGER VILLAGE

was aid out in 1842 by Asa Bradbury.  It is situated four and one-half miles northwest of Cheshire, near the center of the township, on Kyger creek.  Its population in 1880 was 199.