UNION TOWNSHIP

WHEN AND BY WHOM SETTLED.

     Since the first settlements were made in this township, two or three generations have enjoyed the fruits that have resulted from the toils, industries and perils of these old pioneers.
     The township was settled by emigrants from Virginia and Pennsylvania, the first of which was made about 1808 or 1809 by Alexander Collison.  The next settlement was made by Reuben Slavens, on what is now known as the John Andrews farm.  There were also other settlements made by new arrivals about this time, and soon there was quite a neighborhood on what is commonly known as Owl Creek.  In the spring of 1817 William Galford opened a clearing near where the Pleasant Valley church is situated, where he built a log house and reared his family.  His son,  H. S. Galford, now owns the farm, which has been cleared and farmed for sixty-six years.

TOPOGRAPHY

     This valley was very heavily timbered.  The agricultural products of this township are principally corn and wheat, the best farming land being in what is known as Beaver Valley.  This is a level tract of land and takes in quite a scope of the northern part of Union Township, and, although it is level, it is not as productive as some other portions, where the bottom lands are narrower.  The surface in the southern portion is rough and considerably broken, yet some of it is excellent farming land.  Some places are covered over with qan excellent quality of timber, such as white-oak, hickory, chestnut, etc.

MINERAL DEVELOPMENT.

     In the southeast corner of the township is found a light vein of coal which is of rather an inferior quality.  The vein is about twenty inches thick and is a black, dirty, soft, bituminous coal.  There  are no other minerals worthy of mention in the township.  In some places there have been thin veins of iron ore found, but not enough to pay for its development.  Near the western boundary, in Scioto Township, Samuel Taylor has made some mineralogical discoveries, but nothing definite is known of them.

EARLY FACTS AND INCIDENTS.

     The first death in the township of an adult was Alexander Collison.
     The first marriage was that of Ezra Rockwell to Elizabeth Southworth.  Mrs. Rockwell is yet living at an advanced age.
     The first postoffice established in the township was in 1853, and Abisha Rockman was appointed Postmaster.  It is known know as the Galford postoffice, kept by H. S. Galford, who succeeded the first occupant, only two having served since the office was established.

ORGANIZATION, BOUNDS, ETC.

     Union Township is one of the late organizations, having been formed May 7, 1848, but two other townships have been organized since that date, Marion and Scioto, the former the same year, and the latter in 1851.  Union was formed from Seal and Beaver Townships, and the order defining its boundary is as follows:
     "Beginning at the southwest corner of section 34, township 4, range 21; running thence north six miles to the northwest corner of section 3, township 4, range 21; thence east four miles to the northeast corner of section 6, township 5, range 20; thence south six miles o the southeast corner of section 31, township 5, range 20; thence west four miles on the line of Pike and Scioto counties to the place of beginning."  Election order June 23, 1848, at house of Bennett Sailor.
     This gives it an area of a trifle over twenty-three square miles, or an acreage of 14,655.  This was valued in 1882 a $100,581 and the

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personal property $67,000; total valuation, $168, 181.  In 1880 the personal property was assessed at $57,773.
     The population of the township was:  In 1850, 564; in 1860, 766; in 1870, 651 and in 1880, 676.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

     In 1870 the township officers were: Trustees, Louis Shy, Anthony Rader, H. S. Galford; Treasurer, John Schraum; Clerk, Michael Peters; Assessor, H. S. Butcher; Constable, Wm. Kirkpatrick.
     1883. - Trustees, John Fry, Thomas Armontrout, H. C. Stockham; Treasurer, Cyrus Givens; Clerk, L. C. Hobenstein; Justices of the Peace, John Adams, Joseph Gee; Constable, Charles Miller.

CHURCHES.

     Beaver Chapel. - The Methodist Episcopal church, under the above name, was organized in 1825.  It struggled along with varying success for nearly half a century, their place of worship being alog church which they occupied up to the year 1872.  Then th emeans were raised to erect a neat frame building, 26 x 36 feet in size, plainly and substantially finished, and furnished at a cost of $1,200.  The old log house that had served them so faithfully and well gave way before the new improvement, the latter church being placed upon the same lot.  The location is in the northeast corner of the township.  The first Trustees were:  John James, Sr., Jeremiah Sailor, Abraham Burner, John James, Jr., and Peter Shoemaker.  The present Trustees are: Wm. Kirkpatrick, A. L. Parrill, W. D. James, Laton Rader and A. F. Parrill.

     The Pleasant Valley Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1833, and belonged to the Scioto County Church Circuit of that day.  The organization was made at the house of Richard Wells where preaching was held for many years with an occasional change to the houses of the other members.  They first purchased a school-house made of logs, and this served them until 1868, when a frame structure was erected at a cost of $900, which is their present place of worship.  Their present membership is sixty, and their minister is the Rev. McDonald.

     German Lutheran Church. - This church was organized in 1860, and the society erected their church building the same year, which was dedicated by the Revs. Hemming and Hagerman.  It started out with a membership of forty, and the Trustees were Jacob Koger and Michael Peters.  The church has not grown in membership.  It has lost and gained, bu at this writing (1883) the membership does not much exceed that at its organization.  The present pastor is the Rev. Ray, and the Elders are Jno. Sykes and Martin Schmidt.  The church has regular service every two weeks.

EDUCATIONAL.

     The first school taught in the township was in the winter of 1812-'13, in an old log hut.  Among the first teachers was John Zimmerman, and he is remembered by many now living in the township whose boyhood days were spent in part under his instruction and his "switch."
     From this primitive start in educational affairs the schools have grown with the township, and at the present writing five schools are being taught in the township, with an enrollment of 120 boys and 114 girls, or a total of 234 pupils.  The value of school property is $1,500.

BIOGRAPHICAL