PEBBLE TOWNSHIP

ORGANIZATION AND ELECTION.

     Pebble Township was organized in August, 1821, and its first election was held in October of that year;  The judges of the election were, Joseph Penisten, Wm. Young and Daniel Devorss; Clerks, Enoch Parrill and John Devorss.  It was the first new township formed after the county had been divided into municipal divisions.
     The township lies in the center of the northern tier of townships, and is bounded on the north by Ross County, east by Pee Pee Township, south by Newton and west by Benton townships.  It is the third in size in the county, having an area of 23,437 acres of land.  There are few valleys in it; it is generally hilly and in many places rough and broken.  It is well watered from Pee Pee Creek and its branches, and in the valleys of these streams are some rich lands, but these valleys are neither numerous nor wide, yet in a measure redeeming it from the thinner and less productive soil of the uplands.  Wood, water and stone are in abundance.

VALUATION AND POPULATION.

     The personal property of the township was given in 1880 at $77,114.  The assessed valuation in 1882, of land, was $187,137; and of personal property, $77,985; Idaho and Buchanan, $7,420; total valuation, $272,542.  This makes Pebble the fifth in aggregate wealth in the county.
     The population of the township was, in the census of 1840, 504; 1850, 914; 1860, 1,438; 1870, 1,422; 1880, 1,594.

OLD SETTLERS.

     We give a few names of the pioneers of Pebble Township who were prominent in early days; David 'Lawson, William Newland, Henry Grubb, Levi Russell, Joseph Brown, Thomas Newland, Zachariah Briggs, John Waggy, James Leth, Malcha Arthur, James M. Durhan, Joseph Penisten, John Ray, g. W. Robinson, James Richey, Gordon Monroe, John Leeth, James Russell, Archibald Brown, Thomas Waldron, James Bryant, Andrew Pollard, George Tubble, Daniel Kellison, James W. Thompson, Asa Vincent, Marcus Willcox, Peter Lightle, Anderson Brown, George Penisten, Joseph L. Zickafoose, German Brown, James Magee, James Ward, Elza Saylor, James Waldron, George Waldron, Andrew Finney, Robert Lowery, A. R. Lewis.

BUCHANAN

is the central hamlet of Pebble Township and its business is locally confined to the township people.  It is laid out at right angles with the four points of the compass, and at this time has a population of about 100.  Its business interests are two general stores, owned by Theodore Lockwood and W. C. Cussins; a blacksmith shop by James Snyder, and a cooper and wagon shop by Lewis Zickefoose, who is also Postmaster, the office being in Mr. Lockwood's store.

IDAHO.

lies in the southwest corner of Pebble Township and while its business interests are mostly within Pebble Township, it claims the proud distinction of belonging to four townships, viz.: Pebble, Benton, Sunfish and Newton; in fact, it touches all these townships, the corner where they meet being within the surveyed limit is of the hamlet.  The principal street is the Sunfish and Waverly turnpike.  Not far from the town site is the County Infirmary.  The population is a little over 100.  Its business interests are carried on by W. G. Starkey, who is Postmaster and keeps a general store; Messrs. Baker & Williams, who keep a general store; Daniel Fitrick, blacksmith; William Rittenhouse, blacksmith; Amaziah Penn, wagon-maker; Samuel McCollister and Joseph Gaston, cooper shop; John Elliott, shoemaker; Henry Moorman, saloon, and the Idaho House, under the efficient charge of R. S. Thompson as proprietor.
     The early settlers took a considerable interest in their schools and churches.  The oldest school-house was a log structure on Pee Pee Creek, put up about 1816 or 1817, and known as Pee Pee School-house.  Another one of an early day was the old affair that stood for years on No Name Creek.

SCHOOLS.

     There are ten school districts in Pebble Township as follows:
Sub-district No. 1, Pee Pee School - Teacher, Miss Ida Rhoades; scholars, sixty-five.
Sub-district No. 2, Cline School - scholars, sixty-seven.
Sub-district No. 3, Buchanan School - Teacher, L. L. Robinson - scholars, sixty-one
Sub-district No. 4, No Name School - scholars, fifty-two.
Sub-district No. 5, Black School - Teacher, Winfield Black; scholars, sixty-five.
Sub-district No. 6, Leeth Creek School - scholars, sixty-seven.
Sub-district No. 7, has been dropped.
Sub-district No. 8, Colored School - Teacher, Henry Newsom; scholars, fifty-three.
Sub-district No. 9, Idaho School - Teacher, Douglas Holton; scholars, ninety.
Sub-district No. 10, Colored School - Teacher, J. D. Roberts; scholars, forty-two.

CHURCHES.

     The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1853.  The present pastor is Rev. R. M. Turner; Steward, Elias James; membership, sixteen.  They hold their meetings in the Barnett School-house in the northwest portion of the township.  They have regular services once a month; Sabbath-school every Sunday.  They have a church building under construction, at a cost of about $500, the building committee being Elias Jones, Ross Huff and Charles Lomack.
     The Buchanan Presbyterian Church was organized in 1877, by Rev. Mr. Adams, with about twenty members.  Trustees, Samuel Maxwell, Wm. Lydict and Joseph Miller; Deacons, Samuel Ruby, Joseph Miller and Samuel Maxwell.  At present they have no pastor, and the membership is about forty; the trustees and elders are the same as when organized.  Regular services are held every two weeks.  They have a Union Sunday school with an attendance of about fifty scholars, which is held every Sunday.

     The Buchanan Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. Elias Nichols of the Chillicothe Circuit.  The present pastor is the Rev. Mr. Bridwell.  Regular service is held every two weeks, and class-meeting every Sabbath.

     The Buchanan United Brethren Church was organized in 1881 by Rev. George W. Morgan.  At present they have no pastor.  The membership is now about twenty, and regular service is held every third week.

     The African Baptist Church was organized about 1848.  The first church was built ni 1857, and Rev. Nelson Satterwhite was the preacher.  The church was located in the north-central portion of the township, and was used until 1877, when they built a new church three-fourths of a mile south of the old one.  Trustees, Frank Johnson, Henry Lewis and George Wood.  The present membership is 215.  The Rev. Peter Everett was the pastor the last year.  Regular preaching the second Sunday in each month.  Sabbath-school eight months in the year, every Sabbath.  Deacons, David Bundy, Allen Nowell, Allen Causins and Giles Roberts.

     The Leeth Christian Union Church was organized by Rev. John Treat, with ten members, in 1870, and S. A. Shattuck, R. M. Newland and J. D. Roberts were appointed Elders.  They held their meetings in the school-house until 1878, when they built a church.  The pastor was the Rev. James McCibben; Trustees, Joab Newland, S. B. Shade and S. A. Shattuck; Elders, James H. McCibbon, John Newland and J. P. Leeth.  The present minister is the Rev. Mr. Shoemaker, and the membership is about seventy-five.  The church is located on the west side of the township on Leeth Creek.

     The Mt. Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. Thomas Waldron with about twenty-five members.  The church was built in 1873.  The Trustees were: Wm. Smith, James Waldron, Andrew Waldron, James V. Smith and J. L. Wills, the membership at the date having increased to seventy-five.  Rev. George W. McLaughlin was a pastor at that time.  The Trustees are the same now as then, with the exception of Andrew Waldron, who has moved away.  Wm. Stiner was appointed in his place.  Rev. Pearl A. Baker is the present pastor, and the membership is now eighty.  Regular service every two weeks; Sabbath-school every Sunday.

     The Idaho Christian Union Church was organized in 1867, by Rev. Alfred Moore, with fifteen members.  The Elders appointed were: Robert Leeper, Amos Watts, and William Penisten.  In 1870 a church building was erected at Idaho, which cost them between $800 and $1,000.  Revs. Alfred Moore and John Treat were on the circuit.  The membership had grown to about thirty-five; Elders J. M. Smith, Amos Watts and William Penisten.  The pastor now is Rev. James Shoemaker; Elders, J. M. Smith, T. Anderson and Samuel Trego, with a membership of 125 Regular services are held once a month, and class-meeting every Sunday.

     The No-Name United Brethren Church was organized in 1830, and the society built a log church in 1840, the ministers being the Revs. George Hathaway and Jesse Bright, and the membership was about thirty-five.  This church stood until 1874, when they erected a new frame church which was dedicated by Bishop Jonathan Weaver.  Their Class Leader is Joseph P. Coil; Steward, John Dingledine, and the membership now is seventy-five.  Regular services are held every three weeks, and class-meetings every Sunday.

     Pee Pee Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church  - The first class in the township was organized on Pee Pee Creek, at the residence of William Ward, in 1820.  The Revs. James, Laws and Hurd were the ministers, holding their meetings in William Ward's house until 1840.  They had about thirty members.  In 1852 they commenced holding their meetings in the Pee Pee School-house, the preachers being Revs. George Nesler and William Corkins, and their membership about the same as above.  The school house was occupied by them until 1872, when they built the Pee Pee Chapel.  The Trustees were:  Samuel James, Samuel Ashbaugh, Walter Finney, Peter Dick and James Magee.  The class then had reached sixty members with Rev. George McLaughlin as their pastor.  Their present pastor is the Rev. Pearl A. Baker; Trustees, Charles Daily, Henry Dick, James Magee, Peter Dick and Walter Finney, and the membership is now eighty-five.  Regular Preaching is had every two weeks and class-meetings and Sabbath-school every Sunday.

OFFICIAL - 1845.

     Trustees, David Lawson, James L. Leeth, and Joseph Penisten; Treasurer, John Waggy; Clerk, Zack Briggs; Assessor, Levi Walls; Constables, Robert Tubbell and George Young; Justice of the Peace, Richard Rittenhouse; Overseers of the Poor, William Acton and Peter Lightle.

1883.

     Trustees, William T. Moore, Ezra Brown, W. W. Spurrier; Treasurer, W. C. Cussins; Clerk, J. B. Newland; Assessor, S. J. Ashbaugh; Constables, James Acton and G. W. Brown; Justices of the Peace, Walter Finney and D. F. Hiatt.

BIOGRAPHICAL