ADAMS TOWNSHIP

Source:
History of Monroe County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
A Condensed History of the County;
Biographical Sketches: General Statistics; Miscellaneous Matters &c.
Publ. H. H. Hardesty & Co, Publishers
Chicago and Toledo
1882

Page 219      This township was organized Mar. 6, 1826, and contains nearly 23 square miles or sections, embracing parts of original surveyed townships 3 and 4, of range 4, and parts of townships 4 and 5, of range 5.  It is bounded on the north by Sunsbury and Switzerland townships, on the east by Salem, on the south by Greene, and on the west by Centre.  It is watered by Sunfish creek and branches.  Sunfish passes through the middle of it from west to east.  The Piney fork of Sunfish, a considerable stream, and having its source in Sunsbury township, drains the northwestern part of the township and empties into the main stream in section 31.  Near its mouth was built one of the first grist mills in the township, and farther up the stream, near the line between Adams and Sunsbury, John and Alexander Sinclair built, many years ago, an oil mill, the only one ever in the county.  After a few years of successful operation it was destroyed by fire.  Oxly's grist mill above, and Sinclair's saw-mill below the mouth of Piney, were swept away a number of years ago, by high waters.  Atkinson's run, which drains the northeastern part of the township, and Hurd's run the southern, empty into Sunfish at  Cameron.      In the Geological Survey of Ohio, Professor Andrews says: "the geology of the township is simple, for the cement limestone of Centre township, with the seam of coal about eighty feet above it, is easily traced all the way down the creek through the township.  In some places it is thirty feet above the stream, while at Cameron it dips below it.  In one place a well-defined arch is made by the limestone group.  On the land of Jacob Weekly, section 25, we have one of the best developments of coal seen in the county.  There are four feet three inches of coal, exclusive of two thin clay partings, one two and a half inches, and the other one inch thick.  Over the coal is a foot of slate, and over the slate sandstone.  If there were a railroad up the valley of Sunfish to Woodsfield, this would be the source of supply for the region west.  In the neighborhood of Cameron, and partly on the land of John Boughner, in section 13, are three seams of coal above the cement limestone - one, the Jacob Weekly seam, about eighty feet above, another only seen in its blossom or strain, ninety-six feet higher, and a third, reported to be three feet thick, sixty-four feet above the second.  The lower seam is mined successfully for the supply of several neighboring villages and mills  The upper seam is probably thick enough to be worked.  On the lands of Mr. Moberly and Leonard Twinem the same shales found north of Woodsfield are seen, with similar promise of iron ore.  The nodules appear to be of larger average size.  The ore is excellent.      Who were the first settlers of the township is not now certainly known.  Of the five brothers, Atkinson - Charles, James, Mitchell, William and Isaac - who settled at the mouth of Sunfish, about the beginning of the century, or before, Charles and James soon removed farther up the creek, James on the bottom, where the town of Cameron now stands, and Charles, the father of Stephen Atkinson, senior, on the farm now owned by Michael Boughner.  Mitchell and Isaac removed to Seneca township.  William is believed to have been, at one time a resident of the territory now within the limits of Adams, but afterward removed to Greene, on the farm now owned by Christian Roth.  Other early settlers were Gilbert and Mitchell McCoy, Elias Conger, senior, Christian Hartloine, Philip Noland, Robert Norris, Samuel Bracy, the Melotts, Powelis, and others, whose names have escaped the memory of the writer.      The first church in the township was built as early as 1825, near the site of the present town of Cameron, by the Disciples, as they were then generally called.  Revs. John T. Criss and John Secrist ministered to this congregation.  Pleasant Grove M. E. Church and the Bracey Christian Church, are in the northwestern, the united Presbyterian in the southern and the Goudy Christian Church in the southwestern parts of the township.       The town of Cameron was laid out in 1837, by James Atkinson, and called Jamestown.  It is situated on Sunfish creek, near the eastern border of the township.  Stephen Atkinson made an addition to the town next to the creek.  At this place was established the first postoffice, called Rocky Narrows.  The names of the town and postoffice were subsequently changed to Cameron.  Some years ago there was a postoffice in the mouth of Piney, called Young's Mill, but the location was changed to Taylor's store, and the name changed to Irish Ridge.      The population of Cameron for 1880, as reported, was 170, and of the township including the town, by the census of 1880, 1,317.  The school statistics for the year ending Aug.31, 1881, was as follows:  Total amount of school moneys received within the year, $1,921.75; amount paid teachers, $986.10; paid for fuel, etc., $96.10; balance on hand, Sept. 1, 1881, $839.55; No. of school houses, 5; average wages of teachers per month, gentlemen, $28.00, ladies $20.00; No. of pupils enrolled, 235.  The school statistics for Cameron, for the same period, were as follows:  Total school moneys received, $1,262.40; paid teachers, primary, $200.60; high, $34605; fuel, etc., $37.52; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1881, $678.23; No. of school houses, 1: No. of rooms, 2; value of school property, $800.00; No. of teachers, 2; average wages of teachers, per month, $34.00; No. of pupils enrolled, 117.      The present justices of the peace for the township are:  Cephas Hart; C. M. Blowers and J. M. Boughner.

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