BETHEL 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 March 5, 1832, and contains 26 square miles, or sections - 4 in original township 3, of range 6; 10 in township 4, of range 6; 2 in township 4, and 10 in township 5, of range 7.  It is the southwestern township of the county, and is bounded on the north by Franklin township, on the east by Washington, on the south by the Washington county line, and on the west by the Noble county line.  The northeastern part of the township is watered by the Clear fork of Little Muskingum; the middle and western parts by Indian creek, and the southern by Whitten creek, branches of the Clear fork.  The Cumberland seam of coal is found in this township, it being readily traceable fro Elk township, Noble county, on the west.  In section 2, of township 5, this seam has been extensively mined.  The coal must be found in all the hills in its proper geological horizon.      Amongst the first settlers in this township, were Frederick Crow, Michael Crow, Martin Crow, Jacob Miller, Robert Martin, Adam Davis, Jacob Lindemood, Thomas Masters, Jonathan Couner, Stephen Couner, Seth Adams, Henry Hall, Thomas Hall, Thomas Martin, junior, and others, whose names the writer has been unable to obtain; indeed, he is not sure that any of the Crows, above named, ever lived in the territory of Bethel township, as now bounded.  That the Lindemoods, Dearths, Hupps, McVays, Martins, Millers, Couners, and Davises, being all large families, were among the first settlers along the Clear fork bottoms in the township, the writer ahs no doubt.  It is said that Jacob Miller, in 1817, built the first cabin, and that his son John was the first child born in this township.  Jacob Millers wife was Rebecca (Martin) Miller.      The first election is said to have been held at the house of Woodman Okey.  This may have been true under the original boundaries of the township, but by the erection of Noble county, township lines were so changed that it is difficult to fix the exact location of early settlements.  AT that election it is said that Robert Martin, Jacob Miller and Woodman Okey were elected trustees; Jonathan Hendershot, clerk; Robert Martin, treasurer; Thomas Martin, justice of the peace; and A. Mackey, constable.      The first grist-mill is reported to have been built about 1830, by Henry Winland, in size about 20x30 feet, one run of stone and "a corn cracker, " the bolt being run by hand.  To this mill Mr. Winland, afterward added a saw mill.  The first school taught was by Samuel Casey, on the farm of Woodman Okey, as the township was first bounded.      The first post-office was established at Lebanon, about 1845-6, and called Masterton, after the proprietor of the town - Thomas Masters - which town he had laid out a few years previous, and which has now about 100 inhabitants.  It is situated on the county line in the southwest part of the township.  Another postoffice, called Marr, is located at the mouth of Indian creek, and a third on the Clear fork, called Sycamore Valley, in the northern part of the township.  Another postoffice has been recently established in this township, called Quarry, and is situated in the southeast corner of the township.      A Methodist Episcopal society was organized, in1839, about where the town of Lebanon is now situated, by Rev. Mordecia Bishop, who also preached the first sermon there.  The first members were John Hannah, Elizabeth Hannah, Paren Pierce, C. Masters, Phebe Masters, Thomas Merridith, and Joseph Masters and wife; the first class-leader was Thomas Merridith; present membership, about 50.  The Christian Church is located in the northwestern part of the township.  A free Methodist Church is also reported in this township, but where located the writer has not been informed.      By the census of 1880, the population of the township was 1,165.  Present justices of the peace: M. Warwick and W. J. Allen.      The school statistics for the year ending August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of school moneys received within the year, $1,844.80; paid teachers, $1,240.00; fuel, etc., $281.38; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1881, $323.42; No. of school houses, 7; No. of school rooms, 8; value of school property, $2,100.00; No. of teachers 8; average wages of teachers, per month, $27.00; No. of pupils enrolled, 308.      The six sections, lying at the south end of this township, were added to the county at the time of the erection of Noble county.

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