EARLY SETTLERS.

     As Jackson township was included in Virginia Military District, many of the early settlers were from the Old Dominion.  The Renicks were the first family to become established here.  Jonathan Renick, from Hardy County, Virginia, came to the township in 1798 and settled on Darby Creek, having purchased the Dade tract.  A few years later he was joined by his father, John Renick, and other members of the family.  The Renicks are widely represented in Pickaway County and are among its most prominent citizens.
     Shortly after the arrival of Jonahan Renick, William Marquis located on Darby Creek, where, soon after, he built a log gristmill and also a sawmill, which he sold a few years later to Anthony Hall, who came to the township about 1800, and who operated these mills until his death, in 1825.  Both Marquis and Hall came from Virginia.
     In 1801 Anthony Caldwell. Sr., a native of Ireland, who had located in Circleville town ship prior to 1800, settled in Jackson.
     Henry Slyh, Sr., settled permanently in Jackson township in 1802; George Glaze, in 1807; John Baer, about 1809; James R. Hulse, in 1811; John Fisher, in 1815 and Andrew Whiteside and Jonathan W. Huston, in 1828.  Other early pioneers of the township were the following: Robert Martin.  Melchior and Peter Staley, James Hemphill, Samuel Hunter, Jo-

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seph and Ebenezer Petty, Horace Keyes and the Sudduth and Barnes Families.

FIRST MAIL ROUTE

     The first road opened in the township was the old State road running from Franklinton to Chillicothe, over which route the first mail was carried through Jackson township.  A weekly mail left Franklinton each Friday, stopped at Marquis’ mill on Darby Creek over night, reached Chillicothe the next day and returned to Thompson’s on Darby Creek; thence home on Sunday.  When the route was established, there was no postoffice between Franklinton and Chillicothe, but one was soon established at Westfall and, a short time after ward, another at Marquis’ mill.

CHURCHES.

     Florence Chapel. - This church formed an independent organization in December, 1877, with seven members, having formerly been a branch of the Central Presbyterian Church, of Circleville.  For some time the Presbyterian minister at Commercial Point officiated here, but of the late years services have been held only occasionally.  A church structure was erected about 1842; before this date Presbyterian services in Jackson township were held in homes of residents.  The present church building, on the Florence Chapel turnpike, is about 20 years old.
     The first meetings of the Methodists in Jackson township were held at the cabin of John Rush on Darby Creek and at the home of William Littleton, on Lick Run.  Subsequently they were held in a schoolhouse until the erection of the frame church of the society, in 1864, at a cost of about $600.
     The Renick M. E. Church, about seven miles from Circleville on the Florence Chapel turnpike, was organized in the early '80's.  The present frame church building was erected about 20 years ago at a cost of $2,500.  The pastor of the South Bloomfield M. E. Church conducts services here.  The Sunday-school superintendent is E. E. Spence.
     Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, on Lick Run, was organized by Rev. J. H. Schneider, who was pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at Circleville, from 1882 to 1894.  Following Mr. Schneider, Rev. G. W. Mautz conducted services at Christ Church during his four years pastorate at Trinity Church, 1894-98, being followed by Rev. G. J. Troutman, the present pastor of both churches.  The church building, erected soon after the foundation of the society, is a frame structure, roofed with slate.  The church has a membership of 150 souls.  Albert F. Krimmel is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has a membership of about 60 and an attendance of about 45.

CEMETERIES.

     It was thought that the first burials in this township were made in the all buryington Ground, on the bank of Darby Creek, as the inscriptions on the tombstones go back as far as 1807.  Many Halls are buried here as well as members of neighboring families.  In another burying-ground is found the tombstone of John Renick, the pioneer, who died in 1814.  There may have been earlier burials, for time has not dealt kindly with the inscriptions, which in many instances have become nearly effaced.  The year 1826 was a sad one to the early settlers living here, for a malignant sickness, known as the "cold plague," removed many loved ones.  The Jackson township cemetery, comprising some four acres, was laid out some 20 years ago and now has about 150 graves.

SCHOOLS.

     Only a few years after the first settlement was made, a schoolhouse, the first in the township, was erected just below John Renick’s place, near what was called “Strawberry Prairie.”  This was about 1807.  It is said that the first term of school in this log building was taught by Peter Mickel.  David Culberson and James Warren were also pioneer teachers of the township.
     Jackson township at the present time has 11

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districts, each supplied with a substantial schoolhouse.  The total enrollment of the schools in the last school year was 277.  The members of the township Board of Education, as elected in November, 1904, are as follows: William Fisher, David F. Niles and David Adkins - four years; Isham A. Jones and D. H. Prindle - two years.  The clerk of the board is Wayne A. Hoover.

EARLY MILLS.

     The splendid water power to be secured along the banks of Darby Creek early resulted in the establishment of a number of important mills.  Soon after the arrival of William Marquis, he built a small, log grist-mill on Darby Creek, about a quarter of a mile above the site where at a later date the well-known McLane gristmill was erected.  Marquis also had a sawmill.  These mills that Marquis built about a century ago have long since disappeared.  They are usually referred to as Hall’s mills, as they were sold by Marquis to Anthony Hall and by the latter operated for a considerable period.  The McLane grist-mill was built by James Thompson in 1833 and by him sold to John E. Van Meter.  About 1853 it passed into the hands of Joseph Deeds and in 1856 was bought by Washington McLane.  The mill was operated until comparatively recent years.

FLORENCE GRANGE, NO. 874, P. of H.

     Is one of two remaining Granges in the county, where there were perhaps a dozen 30 years ago when the order flourished.  The first officers, chosen at the organization of the Grange, in April, 1874, were as follows:  Felix Renick, master; Robert Galbreath, overseer; H. B. Swearingen, lecturer; J. P. Taylor, steward; J. R. Florence, assistant steward; W. B. Bell, treasurer; J. P. Wright, chaplain; G. A. Florence, secretary; A. J. Williams, gatekeeper; Mrs. Felix Renick, ceres; Mrs. H. B. Swearingen, pomona; Mrs. J. R. Florence, flora; and Mary E. Williams, lady assistant steward.  The present officers are: J. Grant Swearingen, master; John Row, treasurer; and Charles Daily, secretary.  Meetings are held regularly every second Saturday night at the Swearingen homestead now occupied by John Row.  The membership is about 30.

FOX.

Is a small place, of about 25 population, located some four miles northwest of Circleville. There was a postoffice here until it was discontinued some two years ago, since which time Fox has been on Rural Route No. 5 from Circleville.  Trimble Brothers’ store (which for a period of 25 years was conducted by their father, James Trimble (now a resident of Circleville, and Charles Henry’s blacksmith shop make up the business interests of the place.

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*  SHARON WICK'S NOTE:  Charles Justice family is found in the following:
1880 Census, Jackson Twp., Pickaway Co., Ohio
Justice, Jacob - White Male aged 38 yrs. - Mar? - Married - Laborer - born: Ohio - fath. b. O  moth. b. O
", Cyntha - White Female aged 29 yrs. - Oct. - Wife - Married - Keeping house - b. Ohio - fath. b. O  Moth. b. Virginia
", Charles  - White Male aged 10 yrs. Aug. - Son - Snigle_ at school - b. Ohio - fath. b. O  Moth. b. O
" , Loda? - White Female aged 9 yrs. Feb. - Dau. - Single - At School - b. Ohio - fath. b. O  Moth. b. O
" , Willard - White Male  aged 8 yrs. - son - Single - At school - born Ohio - fath. b. O  moth. b. O
" , Melissa - White Female aged 6 yrs. - Sept. - Dau.. - Single - at home - born Ohio - fath. b. O  moth. b. O
" , Levi - White Male aged 4 yrs. Sept. - Son - Single - At home - born Ohio - fath. b. O  moth. b. O
" , Cora - White Female age 1 yr. Jan. - Dau..- Single - At home - born Ohio - fath. b. O  moth. b. O