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This
township was organized at the same session of the
commissioners as Perry, Dec. 30, 1823. It is formed
from parts of original townships 3 and 4, of range 5, and
parts of townships 4 and 5, of range 6. Its eastern
portion is drained by Crane's Nest fork, its northern
by Town fork, and its central, western, and northwestern by
Cronin and Rich forks. The land is of fair quality,
and especially good along the valleys of the streams.
Some limestone is found which serves to fertilize the soil.
No coal has yet been exposed, or at least not in sufficient
quantities as to be of any considerable practical value.
The early settlements in this township were not made
much, if any, before the year 1815. The first, like
those in almost every other part of the county, were made
along the streams, being more accessible than hill lands.
Among the first settlers was Henry Kirkbride, who was
married to Catherine Williams, in Belmont county,
Mar. 25, 1805,by James Starr, justice of the peace,
Jeremiah Willison, who married a sister of Henry
and David Kirkbride, was also an early settler.
John Gray and Hannah Okey were married in
Belmont county, Jan. 8, 1805, by David Ruble, justice
of the peace, and became early settlers. Other early
settlers were the Cronins, Martins, Bakers, Noffsingers,
Daughertys, Farnsworths, Howells, Congers and Deartha.
The first church built in the township was by the
Roman Catholics, to the Daugherty settlement, on Carne's
Nest; but, since the erection of the church in Woodsfield,
has measurably gone to decay. The Barber meeting
house, on section 15 erected by the members of the Christian
Church, was built at an early date, but since the erection
of a new church on Rich fork, has had no regular preaching.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, on the Connor Ridge was,
probably, the next church built. There is quite a
large society of United Brethren in this township.
Their church building is in the south-western corner of
Centre Township.
There is no town within the limits of the township, and
the only post-office is Edwina, located in section 8, near
the mouth of the Town fork. Woodsfield, Graysville and
Louisville afford mail facilities for most of its
inhabitants.
The writer holds an old order on the treasury of this
township, which he preserves among other relics and
curiosities. It reads as follows:
"No. 1, February the 2d, A. D. 1829. To the
treasurer of Wayne township: Your hereby ordered to
pay Joseph Martin, sen., the sum of three dollars,
out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated
by order of the trustees.
"MICHAEL CRONIN, Clk."
The penmanship is good, and the ink must have been of
excellent quality. Suppose some of the younger reader
amuse themselves by figuring up what will be the amount of
$3.00 for fifty-three years, at 6 per cent, compound
interest. In the fifty-three years since the issuing
of that order but few, if any, who were adult citizens of
the township at its day are now living; but the changes that
time has made in the population are not greater than those
made in the development of the soil, the improvement in the
comfort and convenience of the dwelling houses, farm
buildings, school houses and churches.
The population of the township, by the census of 1880,
was 1,284. The school statistics for the year ending
Aug. 31, 1881, are as follows: Total amount of school
money received within the year, $2,035.41; amount paid
teachers, $995.00; paid for fuel, etc., $139.21; balance on
hand September 1, 1881, $9901.20; No. of school houses, 6;
total value of school property, $1,800; No. of teachers, 6;
average wages of teachers, per month, $27.00; No of pupils
enrolled, 316.
The present justices of the peace for the township,
are: J. W. Strickling and Amon Moose.
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