CHAPTER XXVI.
MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP
pg. 304

     ON the 3d of December, 1823, this township was established, and the first election was held at the house of Luther Bateman, in April, 1824.  It is now the north-west corner of Knox, and on the score of improvement, the beauty of the country, and the intelligence of its inhabitants, ranks first.  Its principal settlers at every period have been Friends, from Maryland and Virginia; and the influence of the Quaker element has been highly salutary.  The increase of population and wealth has been steady.  In 1830 the inhabitants numbered 705, and the amount of land returned for taxation was 13,000 acres; in 1840 there were 1,002 inhabitants; in 1850, 1,092; and in 1860, 1,040.  The villages of Batemantown and Waterford are points for trading operations; the latter is quite a thriving little town, having the advantage of mills in its neighborhood.  Here Josiah Fawcett and John Lavering for many years were rivals in business, competitors for the post-office, and the prominent men of their respective parties.  When the Whigs were in power, Josiah held the post-office; and when the Democrats ruled, he was out and John in.  The post-office and its name were mooted

ASCENSION HALL
KENYON COLLEGE, GAMBIER, OHIO

points in Middlebury.  The Laverings were old settlers of this section.  Of the old stack, Daniel and Mary were here in 1813; she died Oct. 24, 1846, aged 85.  Several of the name are in the Waterford.
     Samuel Wilson and Thomas Townsend emigrated from Frederick, Md., in 1808.  The former is dead, and his son Joseph resides in Indiana; the latter died Mar. 18, 1859, aged 78, on the farm where he had resided over fifty years.  Amos and Wm. Farquhar were early Maryland emigrants, and David and Robert Ewers from Virginia.  The Wrights and Lewises, David Eaves, Jacob Zulman, Samuel Willett, the Comforts, Jesse Vore, Jesse Stevens, the Batemans, the Cravens, the Wagoners, the Grahams, the Fiddlers, the McPhersons, the Van Buskirks, the Walterses, have been long residents of this township.  Josiah Fawcett, the old merchant, is in partnership with his son, in a store in Fredericktown.
     Among the citizens of this part of the county in 1819, were William Watkins, from Stoney Creek, Somerset county, Pa.; Warren Owen, from Vermont, who emigrated about 1817; Philo Doolittle and Zebulon Ashley, only son of Zebulon,  is living in Missouri; and his son-in-law, Frisbee Owen, also lives there.
     Charles Strong emigrated from Frederick county, Md.; he died in 1850.  Mr. Strong is living.  Of their eight children, the following survive: G. W. and Lewis, at Frederickstown; John W., sheriff of Richland county; Peter, station agent, Bellville; and Mrs. Mary Parke, of Mt. Vernon.
     The Denman family is one of the oldest and best in Middlebury and Chester.  James Johnson, the old Justice, died a few years ago, leaving a considerable family in this township; his son Orlin a prominent citizen.  Lawrence Van Buskirk is another noted citizen, having served as State Senator.  James Martin and his family have long occupied a front position among the good citizens; he has lived in the county since 1811.
     Jacob Ebersole was an eccentric old settler of miserly disposition, who lived close and mean to accumulate money to look at.  After his death, over $2000 in coin was found hidden away by him - some under an old anvil block in the smith shop, and another lot in an old chest, under some rubbish.

SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

     The first Justice in 1824 was James Johnson, who was regularly re-elected and served until 1848.  The second was James Graham, elected in 1831, and served three terms.  In 1812 Stephen McPherson was elected, and re-elected in 1845.  Ezra Marvin and John W. Loofborow were elected in 1848 and re-0elected in 1851; G. Was. Ewers and Thomas Craven in 1852; Daniel Ayres in 1855; and at the same time J. D. Burke, who was re-elected in 1858, and again in 1861; Isaac Lynde in 1858, and re-elected in 1861.

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